Kashmir police chief: curfew to be eased for Friday prayers

Region has been under lockdown since Indian government revoked its special status on Monday

Security personnel man a roadblock ahead of Friday noon prayers in Jammu and Kashmir on August 9, 2019. AFP

The curfew in Indian-controlled Kashmir will be eased to allow residents of the Muslim-majority region to attend Friday prayers, the state's top police official said.

Kashmir has been in lockdown since Monday, with no internet or telephones and severe restrictions on movement after the Indian government cancelled the Himalayan region's special status and moved to place it under New Delhi's rule. Tens of thousands of extra security forces were deployed in the region in the days before the decision was announced.

"People are allowed to pray within their neighbourhood, there is no restriction on that," said Bilbag Singh, director general of police for Kashmir.

"But they should not venture out of their local area," he told Agence France-Presse.

The Press Trust of India news agency said authorities would allow people to pray in small local mosques, but there will be no Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid in the main city of Srinagar, which has in the past seen regular anti-India protests after Friday prayers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised on Thursday that normality would soon be restored in Kashmir and that its status as a full-fledged state with its own legislature would be restored.

Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist government sparked widespread concerns when it ended the special status accorded to Kashmir and proposed dividing the state into two union territories. Pakistan, which controls part of Kashmir and claims the region in full, cut off diplomatic, trade and travel links with India over the move.

Mr Modi said residents of Kashmir will "not face difficulties" celebrating Eid Al Adha, which is is expected to be celebrated in India from Monday. Media reports said however that authorities would only make a decision on curfew restrictions on Sunday.