Restrictions were eased to allow people in Kashmir to offer Friday prayers in local mosques, officials said as security forces were put on high alert across the Valley in an apparent move to prevent possible protests. The decision to ease the restrictions was taken after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval directed authorities to ensure that no Kashmiris were harassed, they said.
Phone services and internet have been partly restored in the state for the first time in five days. Thousands of security personnel remain positioned across the Kashmir Valley to watch out for any trouble following the centre's decision to end special status and turn the state into two union territories.
Earlier in the day, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury was detained at the Srinagar airport and denied entry into the city. The Left leaders had gone to the Srinagar to meet their party colleagues. He was later sent back to Delhi.
Yesterday, in his 38 minute speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that the centre's decisions would remove hurdles to Jammu and Kashmir's development and make it the world's top tourist destination.
The Prime Minister's special address came two days after the government's move on Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed no major incident of violence over the past three days. On Wednesday, visuals of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chatting and sharing a meal of traditional Kashmiri Wazwan with locals in the Kashmir Valley emerged amid lockdown.
The parliament has approved a resolution abrogating special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution. It also cleared a bill to split the state into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Over 300 political leaders, including former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, remain in custody as part of the government's measures since midnight on Sunday to avoid trouble.
Over 40,000 troops have been stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, sent over the past weeks in the government's meticulous preps for its Article 370 move.