As Friday prayers across the Union Territory passed off peacefully without any untoward incident, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir lifted the restrictions imposed in the Kashmir Valley and some parts of Jammu province following protests over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Authorities on Saturday lifted the restrictions as life returned to normal across the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu province. These restrictions had been in place throughout the week in the wake of protests in several parts of the Valley following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Restrictions have been lifted from all parts of the Valley and the situation is normal,” officials said.
Reports said security forces removed barricades that had been put up at several places, including the Lal Chowk city centre in Srinagar, to prevent the assembly of people.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk had been sealed with barricades erected around it after the area witnessed massive protests on Sunday following Khamenei’s killing in a joint strike by the United States and Israel.
Officials said shops and other business establishments reopened on Saturday morning in Lal Chowk and other areas of the city, while both public and private transport operated normally.
High-Speed Internet, Prepaid Calling Services Restored Across Kashmir Valley
High-speed internet and prepaid mobile calling services were restored across the Kashmir Valley on Friday evening, bringing relief to residents after temporary restrictions on communication services.
Officials said the restoration of services would ease communication difficulties faced by the public, particularly students and the business community, who rely heavily on internet connectivity for daily activities.
With the resumption of high-speed internet and prepaid calling services, normal digital and communication activities are expected to gradually return to routine across the Valley. Authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the smooth functioning of services.
Restrictions had been imposed on Monday after massive protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley following confirmation by Iranian authorities that their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel.
On Friday, the restrictions were tightened in Srinagar and several other areas amid concerns that large congregational prayers during the holy month of Ramadan could trigger fresh demonstrations. Mobile internet speeds were also reduced in several localities to discourage gatherings.
Normal life remained affected in parts of the Valley for several days as protests were reported in some areas following developments in Iran. Authorities had also ordered the closure of educational institutions across Kashmir until Saturday as a precautionary measure.
With the intensity of protests declining over the past two days, the administration decided to ease restrictions ahead of the reopening of schools on Monday.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Police issued an advisory urging media organisations, social media users, and the public to act responsibly while sharing information related to the situation. Police asked people to refrain from circulating unverified reports, speculation, or rumours and to rely only on credible sources.
Police warned that the spread of misinformation could create panic and disturb public order, adding that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found disseminating false or misleading content under relevant provisions of the law.
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