On Wednesday the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered the enforcement of a ban on slaughter of cattle and sale and purchase of beef in the state. (Press Trust of India photo)
Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in downtown Srinagar to prevent protests in the wake of a call for a strike by separatists against the ban on selling beef in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shops, business establishments and schools are closed across the valley. Kashmir University has also postponed exams scheduled for today.
Areas under seven police stations are under curfew-like restrictions as government officials said they are fearing trouble after large scale protests in several areas of Kashmir on Friday afternoon when some people defied High court orders and slaughtered cattle.
On Wednesday the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered the enforcement of a ban on slaughter of cattle and sale and purchase of beef in the state. The court was hearing a public interest litigation demanding ban on beef.
Sources in the state government say they are in fix over how to deal with the situation as the coalition members Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP have opposing views on the issue.
Interestingly, the lawyer who had filed the public interest litigation was appointed deputy advocate general by the government six months ago.
Advocate Parmikosh Seth had filed the plea last year but even after his appointment as government counsel he pursued the litigation.
Under the law enacted during the rule of the provincial King in 1932, slaughter of cattle including cow, ox, buffalo is a punishable offence and violators can jailed up to 10 years.
Possession of beef is also a punishable offence with one year and imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 500.
But the law has been rarely enforced in the state. Cattle slaughter and sale and purchase of beef have become a regular trade in the state over the last three decades.