No parallel rally will be allowed and restrictions will be enforced in sensitive areas on Saturday
Around 300 people have been arrested and an online crackdown has been launched blocking over 50 Facebook and Twitter pages, official sources say as authorities try to thwart plans by separatists and others to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Srinagar on Saturday.
Among those arrested are top separatists, some of whom have called for a counter march, sources said. No parallel rally will be allowed and restrictions will be enforced in sensitive areas on Saturday, they said.
Several separatists have also been put under house arrest, they added.
Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium, the venue for the rally where the PM is expected to announce a major economic package for Jammu and Kashmir, has been turned into a security fortress.
The ruling People's Democratic Party or PDP says curbs have put in place because of security concerns.
"The situation is not very ideal. There has been a problem, you can't deny that. There is a section of people who don't like such gatherings and if government is taking precaution that will be for general good of the people," said Rafi Ahmad Mir, general secretary of the PDP.
Cases have also been filed against unknown people allegedly for spreading rumours through social networking sites to trigger unrest.
Police have set up a special cell to monitor social networking sites and many more Facebook pages and Twitter accounts supporting the separatist march are likely to be blocked, officials said on the condition of anonymity.
"This is not called democracy but dictatorship when you scuttle the voices of dissent. They even arrested an MLA because of fear he might be protesting. Democracy is all about different voices and accommodating them. In 2003 when Mr Vajpayee was here we didn't see such tight curbs," said Raja Muneeb, a Political commentator.