Indian-held Kashmir on high alert for Modi's visit

Nearly 300 activists have been arrested to prevent them from mobilising, a police officer said

SRINAGAR: The main city in Indian-administered Kashmir is under a strict security lockdown to prevent protests during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Authorities ordered a curfew in parts of the city on Friday after hundreds of activists were arrested on the eve of Modi's visit to the disputed region.



Shops and schools remain shut across the main city of Srinagar, while university exams have been cancelled for the day and public transport suspended. Meanwhile, hundreds of police and paramilitary forces patrolled the streets.

Police are positioned on rooftops of all buildings surrounding the cricket stadium in Srinagar where Modi is set to address a rally Saturday, and the buildings are occupied by security troops.

The streets are abandoned, except for government troops in riot gear carrying automatic weapons and separatists have planned a rally near the site of Modi’s speech.

"Restrictions were imposed to prevent breach of peace before the prime minister's rally," a senior police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Nearly 300 activists have been arrested to prevent them from mobilising, another police officer said.

"Our Million March will go ahead come what may," Syed Ali Geelani, the senior most separatist leader who called for the counter-rally said in a statement Thursday.



Modi is due to address a public rally in Srinagar on Saturday, where he is expected to announce economic assistance, more than a year after a massive flood  inflicted $16 billion worth of damage across the region.

This article originally appeared on Associated Press