Ahead Of 1st Anniversary Of Article 370 Abrogation, Curfew Imposed In Jammu-Kashmir Till Aug 5th

Security forces are being deployed, markets are closed, similar scenes like August 5th, 2019 when Article 370 was scrapped, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

(Image: Getty/AFP)

Article 370: August 5th, 2020 will mark the completion of 1 year of Article 370 abrogation and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh into 2 union territories. 2 days short of 1 year, a curfew has been imposed in Kashmir valley on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Srinagar district magistrate in an order said they have got information about "separatists and Pakistan sponsored groups planning to observe August 5 as Black Day". ALSO READ|Abrogation Of Article 370 Is 'Betrayal': Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah Talks About Moving To SC For 'Justice' "...Protests are not ruled out. There are specific inputs about violent protests endangering public life and property," the order for Srinagar district said, though the curfew is applicable across Kashmir valley. People engaged in essential services amid the COVID-19 pandemic are allowed to move, the order said. “ There are specific inputs about violent protests endangering public life and property,” an order issued by district magistrate Srinagar Shahid Chaudhary quoting a report of SSP Srinagar stated. He said such gatherings would also be detrimental to the efforts of containing Covid-19. With a heavy deployment of security forces on the roads, shops and markets will remain closed and there will be no movement of transport. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said he expects restrictions across the Kashmir valley. “The preparations start a full 24 hours earlier this year compared to 2019 with Srinagar, and I presume the same is being done across the valley, being placed under strict curfew from tonight for the next two days,” he tweeted. similar curfew had been imposed from early August last year after the centre scrapped special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and  Article 35A, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two Union Territories, the other being Ladakh. Hundreds of political leaders had been detained or arrested. Many leaders are still under house arrest, including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.