2010-07-07 15:20

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir - The local government in India-controlled Kashmir Wednesday called in Indian army to contain civilian protests and help maintain law and order in Srinagar city, the summer capital of the region, officials said.

The step was taken to enforce indefinite curfew imposed in city, where four people including a 25-year old woman were killed in police and paramilitary action on Tuesday.

A police spokesman said that army will be deployed at sensitive places in the city.

The authorities have also canceled curfew passes issued by the district authorities earlier, including those of journalists.

"We were stopped by Police and Central Reserve Police Force troopers from discharging professional duty," said Asif Suhaf, a Bureau Chief of News 24, a New Delhi based Television News Channel.

There are reporters that photographers and journalists too were stopped from moving out. This measure can lead to media gag in the region.

Officials said army has also staged flag march in some localities.

The civilian deaths on Tuesday triggered fresh spell of protests in the Srinagar and added to the already volatile atmosphere prevalent in the Muslim majority areas of the region over the past one month.

The region witnessed massive protests against Indian rule in recent weeks over the killing of 15 civilians in police and paramilitary shooting on protesters since June 11.