Srinagar, March 4 Strict restrictions remained in place in many areas of Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, following massive protests across the valley against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials said.
As a precautionary measure, the government had shut educational institutions until Saturday, while mobile internet speed continued to be throttled.
"Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people continued in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday," the officials said.
They said strict restrictions were being enforced, especially in areas with a large Shia population and those areas that had witnessed massive protests over the last three days.
A large number of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed across the city to prevent gatherings of protestors, the officials said.
They added that concertina wire and barricades were placed at important intersections leading into the city, while asserting that these were precautionary measures imposed to maintain law and order.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) in the city center of Lal Chowk remained a no-go zone after authorities sealed the area with barricades erected around it late Sunday night.
The move to seal the Ghanta Ghar came after it witnessed massive protests on Sunday following Khamenei's assassination in the joint air strikes by the US and Israel.
This is the first time since August 2019 that protests of this scale have taken place in Kashmir.
The government had first ordered the closure of schools, colleges, and universities for two days. However, on Tuesday, it decided to close educational institutions until Saturday as a precautionary measure in view of the protests.
Mobile internet speeds continued to be throttled, and some prepaid mobile connections were also blocked, the officials added.
On Tuesday, protests rocked several places in the valley, including Sumbal and Pattan areas in North Kashmir.
In Sumbal, in the Bandipora district, security forces had to resort to force to disperse the demonstrators.
Some media outlets and individuals, including National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, faced police scrutiny for allegedly circulating misleading information.
A case was filed against Mehdi and Mattu under sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) of the BNS at the Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, for allegedly circulating "false, fabricated, and misleading content" on digital and social media platforms.
"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of distorted narratives and unverified information capable of causing public unrest and societal disharmony. Such deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability," the police said in a statement.
Both have been condemning the killing of Khamenei and the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran.
However, hours after the case was registered, Mehdi, an influential Shia leader, said he would not be deterred from speaking the truth.
"The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak the truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR," he said in a post on X.
Police have appealed to people to refrain from violence and provocation.
"We appeal to all sections of society to exercise restraint and refrain from violence and provocation," it said.
Police said they will take strict legal action against instigators of violence and those involved in unlawful activities.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed officials to be on high alert and chaired a meeting of top officials of the police and army here.
"Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law and order situation. Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquility," Sinha said on X.
He appealed to the people and community leaders to maintain peace.
"I also appeal to the citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society. Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared responsibility that rests equally upon each one of us," he said.