The law and order situation today remained by and large peaceful in Kashmir,including summer capital Srinagar,from where curfew was lifted completely. "There was no curfew in place anywhere in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. The situation remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere," a police spokesman said. He said restrictions under prohibitory orders,however, remained in force in Palhallan and Delina areas of North Kashmir's Baramulla district as a precautionary measure. Authorities had yesterday imposed curfew in parts of the Valley including Srinagar to thwart separatists' call for a march to the border district of Kupwara. As the day progressed the restrictions were eased and lifted completely this morning. Though some minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from eight places in the city and Pulwama district town of South Kashmir last evening,police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the areas to maintain law and order,the spokesman said. As the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani,which is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley,today announced amendment in its protest strike calendar by exempting transport,public and private transport was seen plying on all routes. Shops in the main markets in Srinagar and other major towns,however,remained closed in response to the Hurriyat protest calendar. The Hurriyat had exempted the transport sector from the purview of the strike in view of the annual Urs ceremony at the famous shrine of sufi saint Sheikh Noor-uddin Noornai at Chrar-e-Sharief in Budgam district of Central Kashmir. While government-run educational institutions remained closed in view of the holiday announced by the government in connection with the ceremony,some of the private schools and colleges remained open. Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 when a 17-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in the interior city. So far,over 100 persons have been killed in the unrest in the Valley.
