Srinagar, Jul 22 (IANS): Curfew was lifted here Sunday, but sporadic protests and a shutdown called by the separatists marred normal life in the city. Over 25 people were injured in clashes across the Kashmir Valley.
Authorities lifted curfew restrictions from Srinagar and all other areas of the Kashmir Valley Sunday, but markets and businesses remained shut, and public transport was not available. The separatists called a shutdown to protest the killing of four people in a shootout by troopers in Gool village of Ramban district Thursday.
A police statement issued Sunday evening said: "The situation remained under control throughout Kashmir Valley today. Some stone-pelting incidents were reported from Papchan, Naidkhai, Gulshan Chowk in Bandipora, Khanpora in Baramulla, and a couple of places in downtown and uptown Srinagar."
"The deployments exercised maximum restraint. Eight policemen, eight CRPF men and eight civilians were injured. All the injured are stable."
A youth sustained a pellet injury in Baramulla town during the stone-pelting clashes Sunday. A senior police officer said: "He was taken to hospital and doctors have described his condition as out of danger."
Tension gripped north Kashmir Saloora village in Ganderbal district in the morning, when rumours spread that a copy of the Holy Quran had been desecrated.
As people started protesting the alleged desecration, police reached the village.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some anti-social youths living in the village had just been up to mischief, to instigate trouble.
"The miscreants who spread the rumours have been identified. They will soon be arrested and brought to justice," a senior police officer said.
Wild rumours also did the rounds of Srinagar Sunday that some youths injured in clashes with security forces had died.
To scotch the rumours, police issued another statement which said: "Certain people are trying hard to vitiate the atmosphere by spreading rumours."
Rumours of a young boy being killed in Sumbal were floated by certain fake identity holders on social networking site Facebook. Reportedly, one person with a Facebook presence as Syed Naseem posted an update about the death of a youth in Safa Pora, which turned out untrue.
The post was later removed.
"All these Facebook miscreants are being identified and action would be taken against them. In this regard, a case FIR No. 57/2013 U/S 67 of IT Act and 505 RPC has been registered in Police Station Kothibagh," the police statement said. The Inspector General of Police Kashmir has appealed to people not to heed rumours. News channels too were requested to confirm news before broadcast, it added.
Meanwhile, the board of school education has put off all the examinations scheduled for Monday.
The three-day shutdown called by the separatists ended Sunday.