india

Updated: May 22, 2019 00:04 IST

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced an end to restrictions on civilian traffic from Monday next along the lifeline Uri-Udhampur national highway after a review of the security situation. The highway connects Kashmir with the outside world.

Civilian traffic on the 301-km highway was banned from 4 am to 5 pm every Sunday and Wednesday until May 31 to allow exclusive movement of security convoys.

The move was a part of tightened security measures taken following the February 14 car bomb along the highway in Pulwama that left 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead. The attack prompted India to conduct an air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan.

“These restrictions had become necessary following the movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama terror attack. The forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and for smooth conduct of general elections,” an official statement said. It added there would be no restriction on civilian movement from May 27.

The restrictions had triggered protests across the Kashmir Valley. Former CM Omar Abdullah had criticised the move saying the restrictions were imposed without an application of mind.

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement founder, Shah Faesal filed a petition against the move in the state high court calling the traffic ban a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in Constitution.