Kashmir curbs relaxed
UN SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO ISSUE STATEMENT
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Indian authorities eased restrictions on movement and restored landline telephone links in some parts of Kashmir yesterday, the biggest relaxation in a crippling lockdown since New Delhi announced it was removing the region’s special status on August 5.
The moves came amid celebrations, as well as protests, by Kashmiris opposed to the Indian policy in Srinagar on Friday night. The celebrations were to mark the first United Nations Security Council meeting about the Kashmir issue for about five decades.
Two police officials and a series of eyewitnesses said demonstrations
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin in a symbolic gesture shook the hands of three Pakistani journalists, extending his “hand of friendship” to them as he addressed the media after the UN Security Council held closed consultations on Kashmir. and celebrations took place in various parts of the city. However, the number of incidents of local residents pelting security forces with stones were low compared with recent days, said a security official who toured Srinagar in the morning.
A witness said that hundreds marched in the Rajouri Kadal area of Srinagar and they also let off some fire crackers.
No announcements
For the first time since the Indian government announced that it was revoking Jammu and Kashmir state’s rights to set some of its own laws, police vans didn’t announce imposition of a virtual curfew in Srinagar. The authorities deny there has been a curfew in the past two weeks but on many occasions people have been ordered to stay indoors.