Curfew-like restrictions had been imposed as precautionary measures since early this morning in downtown and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) Srinagar, where people are being directed to remain indoors.

Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had yesterday in a joint statement urged people to hold protests after Friday prayers against US action of branding Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin as a terrorist.

Following the protest call, District Magistrate, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, imposed restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC in area under the jurisdictions of Police Stations Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safakadal today as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident. However, the situation on the ground was entirely different as people were not allowed to move out of their houses since early this morning in these areas. Hundreds of state police personnel and security forces, wearing bulletproof jackets and wielding automatic weapons and lathis in their hands, were deployed to strictly impose the restrictions in downtown and SeK..