Rajnath to visit Kashmir, curfew lifted in valley after 51 days

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will lead an all-party team to Srinagar on Sep 4, an official said on Monday, as curfew was lifted from almost all parts of the Kashmir Valley after 51 long days.

Curfew was lifted from the entire troubled valley barring Pulwama town and in areas under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta and MR Gunj police stations in Srinagar city, a police official told IANS.
 
The decision followed a high level security meeting on Sunday evening, informed sources said.
 
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh will lead an all-party delegation to the Kashmir Valley on September 4 to "meet a large number of local leaders", an official said.
 
Rajnath Singh has been constantly reviewing the situation in Kashmir ever since unrest began a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on Jul 8.
 
The separatists in the valley have, however, continued with their protest shutdown despite the lifting of the curfew.
 
Last week, the separatists asked people to continue the shutdown until Sep 1.
 
All senior separatist leaders are under detention in Srinagar.
 
A total of 71 people -- 68 civilians and three policemen -- have been killed in the violence that began on Jul 9.
 
Over 11,000 others, including civilians and security personnel, have been injured.