KASHMIR 2LST

Protesters had Tuesday clashed with security forces at
various places.
On the deployment of the army in Srinagar, state
minister and Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin said, "We requested
the Army to help us in maintaining peace. Peace is our first
priority. They will be the supportive force we need for
keeping peace."
Police vans fitted with public address system announced
imposition of curfew this morning and also advised people to
remain indoors. Curfew passes issued to journalists were
cancelled.
The Chief Minister made a fresh appeal to the people to
maintain calm and not to violate curfew restrictions.
Meanwhile, State Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar asked
people to respect the curfew restrictions.
"We will strictly implement the curfew restrictions.
Government will try its best to restore normalcy. We are
trying our best to normalise the situation," he said.
Referring to stone-pelting protesters, he said, "Some
elements, some agencies were getting the youths on the roads
for implementing their political agenda. So we are trying our
best to control the situation. It is just the question of
saving the people from this situation".
The state government has advised deputy commissioners
throughout the valley to enforce prohibitory orders in their
respective jurisdiction. They have also been instructed to
impose curfew wherever necessary, an official spokesman said.
Slamming the decision to deploy army, major opposition
party People's Democratic Party (PDP) said by taking such a
step, the state government had abdicated its responsibility.
Top PDP leaders, led by patriarch Mufti Mohammad Sayed,
met here and took stock of the situation in the valley.
"The government has not been able to perform its
fundamental duty of protecting the lives of citizens," a PDP
spokesman said in a statement.
"It is ironical the state government has requisitioned
army to fight unarmed citizens at a time when in other states
a consensus has been arrived not to use defence forces even
against highly armed and trained fighters."
The spokesman said the "move is fraught with danger
and adds to the long list of negative signals” emanating from
the government. PTI