SRINAGAR: Curfew and restrictions continued in Kashmir to maintain law and order, a day after two youths died in clashes in the Valley taking the toll in the unrest to 78.

“Curfew continues in Baramullah, Tangmarg, Pattan and Handwara towns of Kashmir as a precautionary measure,” a police officer said.

Yesterday, authorities had clamped curfew across the Valley to foil the separatists’ plan of holding a rally to the local office of the United Nations Military Observers Group. Two persons were killed and scores of others injured during clashes between security forces and protesters who tried to defy the curfew. Although, the first few hours of the day passed off peacefully, incidents of stone-pelting were received from many areas of the Valley including some parts of the city today. Restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley. The authorities had to seal some of the sensitive areas including Lal Chowk and high security Gupkar road. Helicopters, drones and UAVs continued to hover over the Valley’s skyline for maintaining vigil. With additional forces deployed on the ground, the authorities have been able to keep a tab on the situation with no major untoward incident reported from anywhere in the Valley so far. Separatists had today asked people to occupy highways and main roads from Banihal in south Kashmir to Uri in north Kashmir. The CRPF said its troops faced at least 67 incidents of stone pelting in Kashmir Valley since yesterday when Eid-ul-Azha was being observed. “16 CRPF personnel injured & 3 CRPF vehicle damaged in 67 incidents of stone pelting involving the force in the Kashmir Valley in past 24 hrs,” it said on a tweet. Normal life in the Valley remained affected for the 68th day due to curfew and separatist sponsored strike since July 9, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. –PTI