Amidst curfew in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and deployment of security forces, normal life remained paralysed in the Kashmir valley on Sunday.

The Hurriyat leadership had called for shutdown ahead of hearing on the controversial Article 35A in the Supreme Court and arrest of some separatists and fundamentalist elements.

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Business establishments remained shut and vehicular traffic mostly remained off the road. Security forces have been deployed in strength to keep vigil on suspicious movements.

Authorities in Srinagar had imposed curfew within the territorial jurisdiction of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal and MR Gunj police stations of Srinagar as a precautionary measure.

Mobile internet services were slowed down to 2G connectivity and train services were also suspended.

Tension mounted in the valley on Saturday evening as rumours about the scrapping of the Article 35A and safety of top separatist Shabir Shah at the Tihar Jail spread across the valley.

Panicked over the rumours of the shortage of essential commodities, people turned out in large numbers to purchase petrol, diesel, LPG, and eatables. The authorities asked the people to maintain calm as there were sufficient stocks of these items and the trucks carrying ration and petroleum products that were stuck due to landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway were heading for the valley after clearance of the road.