Handwara tense again, curfew re-imposed after fresh violence

Srinagar: Authorities on Monday re-imposed curfew soon after fresh protests erupted during curfew relaxation in the tense town of Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. [caption id=“attachment_2734342” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Curfew in Handwara was lifted for three hours on Monday. PTI[/caption] The curfew was to be relaxed from 8 to 11 am in the northern town after days of uninterrupted curfew. As soon as the curfew was relaxed, miscreants took to the streets and began stoning police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a senior police officer told IANS. “Security forces used batons and tear smoke to quell the protests after which curfew was re-imposed,” the officer said. The officer said the situation would be reviewed on Monday afternoon to decide on further curfew relaxation. Curfew was imposed in Handwara town last week following violent protests after locals alleged that a soldier had molested a school girl. The girl told the chief judicial magistrate on Sunday that the allegation was baseless.