Srinagar:
Curfew has been re-imposed in Maisuma area of Srinagar and three other districts - Anantnag, Pulwama and Sopore - in the Valley after clashes between protesters and security forces.
Earlier on Saturday morning, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah met Home Minister P Chidambaram to discuss the Kashmir situation. This was the first time he was meeting Chidambaram after the new crisis in Kashmir. Abdullah left for Srinagar after the meeting. (
Read: Farooq Abdullah meets Chidambaram to discuss Kashmir situation)
Srinagar and the rest of the Kashmir valley woke up to a peaceful morning and a semblance of normalcy seemed to have returned to the streets of the city after a night that passed off without any major incident despite curfew being relaxed for the first time in three days. (
Watch: Kashmir valley's night of peace)
Curfew was to be back in place at 5 o'clock this morning but after the night of calm, the curfew relaxation continues in other areas except Anantnag, Pulwama (Kakpora area) and Sopore districts.
Curfew was relaxed to enable people to offer special prayers overnight at Srinagar's Hazratbal shrine for Sabh-e-Mehraz, one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar. (
Read: Srinagar curfew eased for Shab-e-Meraj prayers)
The moment curfew was relaxed on Friday night at 8 o'clock, people started coming to the shrine and offered prayers but people in far flung areas of the Valley could not make it because of the timing of the announcement and lack of public transport.
For the Omar Abdullah government, it was a high risk decision that seems to have paid off. It was the first test to see if control has been regained over the tense situation in Srinagar especially since the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Sayed Ali Shah Gilani actually gave a Hazratbal chalo call earlier asking his supporters to march towards the Hazratbal shrine.
But eventually, it was a night that passed off peacefully except for some stray incidents of stone throwing in Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar and Pulwama district.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened an all-party meeting in Srinagar on Monday to discuss the current crisis but main Opposition party, the PDP, plans to boycott it saying the government has lost its credibility.
Omar has, however, appealed to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, requesting her to attend Monday's meeting.
"J&K is at the crossroads of a critical phase so I would be personally grateful if you reconsider your decision on the all-party meet," Omar said while speaking to Mufti on phone on Saturday.
The National Conference (NC) has clarified that Mehbooba didn't ask for a session of the Assembly to be called for the law and order problems, she asked for it to be called to revoke Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and to remove the Army.