While stray incidents of stone pelting are still being reported from parts of Srinagar, the overall situation in Kashmir Valley is gradually showing signs of improvement. The security grid lifted restrictions from Lal Chowk area on Wednesday permitting local residents to move around freely. Markets in the area, however, remained closed and scanty traffic was witnessed during the day.
In Baramulla, a joint team of security forces eliminated a Lashkar-e- Tayyeba (LeT) terrorist identified as Momin Gojri in an overnight operation. A Sub-Inspector of State Police and a Special Police officer (SPO) received serious injuries in the gunfight.
According to police spokesman, SPO identified as Bilal Ahmad succumbed to his injuries while SI Amardeep Parihar is undergoing treatment in the Army hospital.
On the Line of Control, Pakistani Army initiated fresh ceasefire violation in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri around 3.45 pm.
In response, Indian Army gave befitting reply.
DIG Central Kashmir VK Birdi told reporters in Srinagar, “No major law and order incident was reported from anywhere in Kashmir Valley. He said, all those areas where relaxations was given behaved normally”. He said, in few pockets stray incidents of stone pelting were reported and they were dealt with appropriately by the law and order machinery on ground”.
Local reporters, while referring to incidents of continuous stone pelting in different parts of Srinagar had asked him whether more arrests were made to contain the situation, DIG VK Birdi maintained, “Law and order machinery is handling the situation and monitoring it very closely on ground zero”.
Director General of Police Shri Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said effective initiatives have been taken to bring all round improvement in the law and order situation in the Valley to ensure security of the people. He said stringent action will be taken against those disrupting peace and creating panic among masses.
Earlier, DGP attended the wreath laying ceremony of martyr SPO Bilal Ahmad Magray who was martyred during the Ganai Hamam, Baramulla encounter.
Meanwhile, addressing routine Press conference, Director Information & Public Relations, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar told reporters, “With the opening of middle schools across Kashmir Valley, the teachers’ attendance was recorded at 60-80 per cent and Government offices also witnessed 90 per cent attendance on Wednesday.”
She said the attendance of students also improved over the past two days. On Wednesday, the school education department in Kashmir claimed around 774 middle schools were thrown open in areas where primary schools were functioning since Monday.
Director School Education Kashmir, Muhammad Younis Malik read out a detailed report claiming districts of Kulgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal are showing marked improvement in terms of attendance in schools.
The presser was also informed that hospitals, banks are functionally normally, besides ATMs, transport, and other services are adequately operating across the State. They said review meetings are being held at district and divisional level for harvesting and to transport of horticulture produce to other places. Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam himself reviewed the transport facilities and establishment of mandies across the Valley. There was no shortfall of transport facilities, the officials informed.
The Government urges people not to believe in rumours in this regard, the presser was told.
They also said there was no law and order incident reported from any area in Jammu and no major law and order incident from Kashmir was reported.
