Srinagar: Curfew, amid a shutdown called by octogenarian Hurriyat Conference (G) chairperson Syed Ali Geelani, continued in parts of Kashmir for a second day Saturday following the killing of Zakir Musa, the chief of an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, in an encounter with government forces in Pulwama district on Friday.

Officials said the curbs on the movement of people were in force in parts of Srinagar, and Kulgam and Pulwama towns.

Schools and colleges remained shut, while mobile internet continued to be suspended across the valley. Trains on the Baramulla-Banihal line remained off the tracks due to the situation, the officials said.

“Curfew continued to remain imposed in parts of the Kashmir valley today (Saturday) as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” they said.

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In Srinagar, the officials said, “strict restrictions” were in place in Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal and M R Gung police station areas, while “partial restrictions” were in force in Maisuma and Kralkhud areas.

The officials said forces have been deployed in strength in other parts of the valley to prevent protests.

Musa, the head of the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, was killed in the encounter at Dadsara village of Tral in the south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday after forces launched a search operation late Thursday evening following information about the presence of militants.

His killing led to spontaneous shutdown and protests in the valley.

Meanwhile, most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remained shut in the valley due to a strike called by Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the killing of Musa and a civilian Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Naira Pulwama who was killed by unidentified gunmen on Thursday, the officials said.

They said public transport was off the roads, but few private cars and auto-rickshaws were seen plying.