 Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 17: With more shops reopening and vehicles hitting the road, life is slowly limping back to normal in Kashmir valley, where prepaid mobile and internet service of all Cellular companies remained suspended since August 5, when Article 370 was scrapped and the state bifurcated two Union Territories.
Meanwhile, hundreds of customers have thronged to famous 3-km-long weekly Sunday market in the summer capital, Srinagar to shop for warm clothes, including jackets and sweaters.
A police official said there was no curfew restriction in any part of the valley on Sunday. However, restrictions under Section 144 CrPC, prohibiting assemble of four or more persons, continued as a precautionary measure in the valley.
But, all gates of the historic Jamia Masjid remained closed since August 5. Central Armed Paramilitary Force (CAPF) remained deployed in the Jamia market and outside to prevent people from entering the worship place, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, who is currently under house arrest.
Many shops in the city, particularly in uptown and civil lines, remained open throughout the day. But, most shops and business establishments reopened this morning in Srinagar, including in uptown, civil lines and downtown. However, after functioning for about three hours from 0900 hrs, everything again came to halt as shopkeepers closed their establishments and left for home.
Heavy rush of traffic, including cabs and other passenger vehicles, besides private vehicles, continued to ply on majority roads in the city.
A report from Anantnag said business and other activities remained partially affected in this and other district and tehsil headquarters of south Kashmir on Sunday. Some shops remained open throughout the day in Anantnag. But, life remained affected in Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama. Private vehicles were seen plying on the roads but passenger traffic remained off the roads. Some cabs were also seen plying to different district routes.
Similar reports were also received from central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Budgam, where life was limping back to normal. |
