New Delhi/Srinagar, July 9: As he grapples with a difficult situation in Kashmir, the Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, has said the recent developments have “dented” the credibility of his government and his own image but made it clear that he would not run away as he was not a “weak person”.
He said the stone-pelting incidents and strikes in the valley are “symptoms of a wider problem”.
Meanwhile, after remaining indoors for about 76 hours, the people in Valley and made a beeline to mosques and other places of worship on Friday evening to offer congregational prayers to mark Meraj al-Aalam, Prophet Muhammad’s ascension to the Heaven. This came soon after the Union home secretary, Mr Gopal K. Pillai, appeared on television to announce curfew has been lifted from the Kashmir Valley from Friday evening.
[A report from northwestern town of Baramulla said that one person was injured when police opened fire to quell a stone throwing mob. At Kakapora, 20 persons including 12 policemen were hurt in police firing]
However, the government has taken a risk by lifting the curfew.
Hurriyat Conference faction headed by jailed separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has already asked people to march towards Hazratbal shrine on Friday evening for night prayers and hold protests throughout the Valley and offer Qanoot-e-Nazilla prayers in each congressional prayer on Saturday.