Curfew in Kashmir Valley ahead of Ayodhya verdict

SRINAGAR: Curfew has been imposed in Kashmir Valley to preempt any violence that could follow the verdict in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri mosque title suits by expected Thursday afternoon.

"Curfew has been imposed in the entire Srinagar city, Ganderbal, Kangan, Bandipora, Sumbal, Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara, Kupwara, Trehgam, Badgam, Anantnag, Qoimoh, Bijbehera, Kulgam and Shopian towns of the valley today to preempt any violence that might follow the Allahabad High Court judgement expected Thursday afternoon," a senior police officer said here.

For a change, valley wide curfew has been imposed due to a reason that does not relate to the protest programme of local separatist leaders. Kashmir is Muslim dominated.

In the last three months, separatists have been calling shutdowns and protests and authorities imposing curfews/restrictions to thwart separatist violence.

"It is for the first time in the last three months that authorities had to impose curfew because of a reason that does not owe itself to the separatist protest calendar," said a local journalist here.

Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in full gear has been made to imposed curfew in Srinagar city and other towns of the valley.

Hindu and Muslim groups are party to the Ayodhya title suits.