New Delhi, August 13: The government on Tuesday, August 13, said that restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir are being eased out in a phased manner to avoid loss of human lives. “The restrictions in the Kashmir valley is being eased out in a phased manner and situation in Jammu division has been restored after an assessment by relevant local authorities,” said Rohit Kansal, a government spokesman. Independence Day 2019 Dress Rehearsals in Full Swing in Jammu and Kashmir Post Article 370 Abrogation, View Pics and Videos.

The official also asserted that political leaders like former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, who were arrested as a preventive measure, will be released after evaluating the ground situation. Around 400 political leaders of the valley are under detention.

"The administration is mindful of the difficulties being faced by people and trying to minimise the inconvenience. Any such decision (removal of restrictions) will be taken only after an assessment by the local administration," Kansal said. Jammu and Kashmir Bifurcated, Article 370 Scrapped: Amit Shah Leads The Charge From Introducing Resolutions to Countering Opposition, Overshadows PM Narendra Modi.

Jammu and Kashmir has been under a high-security cover since August 4 - a day before the announcement of revocation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating it into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The top government official said that this was not the first time restrictions were imposed in the Valley. A similar situation had existed in 2016, following the killing of Burhan Wani, Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, after which the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference called strikes for weeks.

"This time the state administration has taken pre-emptive steps to depreciate the violence and loss of lives. This is an extraordinary situation," the official explained. (With PTI Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2019 11:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).