Restrictions lifted in SeK and downtown after two days

Srinagar, Aug 16 : Curfew-like restrictions were lifted in Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and downtown in Srinagar after two days despite fresh clashes between demonstrators and security forces last evening. Meanwhile, all roads leading to historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, which were closed with barbed wire on August 14 night to prevent people from entering the area, are open today. Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed as a precautionary measure in the areas falling under five police stations of Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Khanyar in the downtown and SeK on August 14 morning to prevent any demonstration on Pakistan Independence Day. It continued yesterday when both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the agitation, demanding right to self determination, have called for a general strike. All road blocks put up in the downtown and SeK have been lifted and traffic was plying on all routes normally today. All gates of historic Jamia Masjid, stronghold of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, who remain under house arrest since last about two months, are open today. However, a large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in the area. The entire Nallahmar road from Khanyar to Qamarwari which was closed with barbed wires for the past two days was open today. Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators who were pelting stones at several places in the down town, including Nawa Kadal last evening. However, situation was normal today. UNI