Toll touches 17, more areas under curfew in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar : Curfew has been extended to all troubled towns of the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday to contain the escalating violence, that killed seventeen so far and wounded over 70, police and hospital sources here said.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in fresh areas also to foil attempt of the trouble makers to take advantage of spreading rumours and to prevent common people from pouring out on the streets.

The new areas under curfew include Budgam town, Choon, Mirgund, Ompora, Narkara, Shekhpora, Humhama, I G Road, Gulwanpora, Nadir Gund, Chadoora and Wathoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Srinagar city, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Awantipora, Lethpora, Pampore and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir and Sopore town in North Kashmir had been under curfew since Sunday.

Curfew was also imposed in Ganderbal and Kangan towns, Kulgam, Qoimoh, Shopian town, Baramulla town, Tangmarg, Kupwara town, Tregham, Kralpora, Handwara, Chotipora, Kulangam and Bandipora town.

Yesterday, spiralling violence in Kashmir, that killed 14 people on Monday, prompted the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to discuss a proposal to amend the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) now in force in the region.

The meeting ended with the Centre summoning an all-party meeting on Kashmir on Wednesday, media reports said.

The CCS met to decide/consider lifting of the Armed forces Special Powers Act from four districts of J&K in an attempt to assuage ruffled feelings among Kashmiris over human rights violations by the forces and towards the rule of New Delhi.