Srinagar: Normal life continued to be crippled in Srinagar in response to a shutdown called by separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, even though authorities lifted preventive restrictions from the Kashmir Valley on Thursday,
"Restrictions have been lifted from the entire valley and there is no curfew or preventive restriction anywhere on Thursday," a senior police officer said.
However, shops, educational institutions, banks, public transport and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar because of the two-day shutdown beginning on Wednesday called by Geelani, the leader of the hard-line faction of the separatist Hurriyat group against alleged human rights violations.
With stone pelting youths challenging taxis, autorickshaws and even private vehicles in some parts of the city, there was little traffic movement on Thursday. However, on Wednesday, some autorickshaws and taxis could be seen.
In uptown Batmaloo area, residents came out on the road in response to the separatist programme.
To avoid any confrontation between the protesters and the security forces, authorities have withdrawn most of the deployments from the sensitive areas of the city on Thursday.
"We are keeping a close eye on the situation," Farooq Ahmad, inspector general of police (Kashmir Zone) said here.
People in some other towns in the Valley also came out of their homes to stage protests.
At least 15 people have been killed, including a 25-year-old woman, in the clashes between protesters and security forces since June 11.
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