After midnight on Sunday, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone, Jammu and Kashmir's three most prominent politicians, were put under house arrest in an unprecedented lockdown following a huge safety build-up and a first-ever public advisory calling on Amarnath pilgrims and visitors to leave Kashmir instantly.

In many locations, mobile internet and telephone links were blocked and public gatherings or rallies in Srinagar and sections of the state were banned