As Kashmir prepares to mark the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which guaranteed special status to the semi-autonomous region, on August 5, the valley has turned into the land of dead silence after the authorities have imposed tight curfew and restrictions on August 4 and 5 to limit people's movement amid the COVID-19 lockdown. 

The Kashmir valley has imposed with the curfew and brought under surveillance of the government after the authorities stated that they had received specific inputs about violent protests planned to execute on August 5, during the first anniversary of repealing the special status. According to the officials in the valley, district magistrate in the valley has passed orders of complete restriction and curfew on August 4 and August 5. 

As per the government's directive, it has said that the orders of curfew have been placed in the valley after the police report which said that the separatists and Pakistan-sponsored outfits are going to observe the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 as a 'Black Day'. The order of curfew has been issued by the Deputy Magistrate, Srinagar. The police report said that there are possibilities for the unrest in the valley on August 5. 

The violent protests could damage public life and property and suggested to impose curfew in Srinagar to avoid any untoward incident. The administration further said that the existing restrictions concerning to curb the COVID-19 spread would be in place and the movement and assembly of people have been strictly prohibited to contain the COVID-19 spread. 

The order, however, clarified that the movement of medical emergencies and staff members on COVID-19 duty would be given exemption from the restrictions. Following the order of imposing curfew during the first anniversary, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and said, 'The preparations start a full 24 hours earlier this year compared to 2019 with Srinagar, and I presume the same is being done across the valley, being placed under strict curfew from tonight for the next two days.'  The former Chief Minister has shared the order in his Tweet. 

The preparations start a full 24 hours earlier this year compared to 2019 with Srinagar, and I presume the same is being done across the valley, being placed under strict curfew from tonight for the next two days. pic.twitter.com/WBpCAxrs2G

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 3, 2020

On August 5, 2019, the Central BJP government, which formed the government for the second consecutive time, announced the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, which guaranteed the special status for Jammu and Kashmir. The special status, which was enjoyed by the Kashmir region since independence, was eventually revoked by the Central government last year and it has also bifurcated the states into two new union territories - Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made the announcement of abrogation in the Parliament. Ahead of the abrogation, the Center has suspended the communication corridors across the valley, imposed strict orders and curfew, deployed unprecedented numbers of armed forces, and detained three former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir -Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti. While the Abduallahs have been released, Mufti still continues to be under detention.