Section 144 Withdrawn From Jammu; Schools, Colleges to Re-Open Tomorrow

Hours after restrictions were eased in Kashmir for the purpose of Friday prayers, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has withdrawn Section 144 of CrPC, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons in an area, from the municipal limits of Jammu district.

Jammu: Security personnel stand guard during restrictions, in Jammu, Monday. Photo: PTI- File

JAMMU: Hours after restrictions were eased in Kashmir for the purpose of Friday prayers, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has withdrawn Section 144 of CrPC, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons in an area, from the municipal limits of Jammu district. Schools and colleges can open from August 10, read an order from District Magistrate Sushma Chauhan. "The order No DCJ/PS/2019/376-407 dated 05-08-2019 issued under Section 144 CrPC within Municipal Limits of Jammu District is hereby withdrawn," the order said. Earlier in the day, people in Kashmir offered Friday prayers in their local mosques after being confined to their homes for days, as restrictions were eased for the purpose. The Valley was largely peaceful barring minor incidents of stone-pelting in the apple-town of Sopore in north Kashmir, an official said. People, who have been virtually been kept indoors because of heavy security deployment in the wake of removal of special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state, were allowed to go to mosques in their localities without being asked any questions by security personnel.

Section 144 withdrawn from Jammu; schools, colleges to reopen tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dgnDORnDJY

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With no untoward incident, the situation, as of now, was reported to be fine in the Srinagar city and south Kashmir, officials said, but added that reports from all areas are yet to arrive. The prohibitory orders were clamped five days ago to stem possible protests over the central government move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has now been divided into two Union Territories -- J&K and Ladakh. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who has been camping in Srinagar since Tuesday, spoke to locals and security personnel during a quick tour of the sensitive downtown area here on Friday, an official said. The NSA, accompanied by his aides and senior police officers, visited the Eidgah locality and stopped at various places to interact with locals. He later spoke to police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and thanked them for their wonderful work in maintaining law and order.