Srinagar: Business was once again paralysed as shops and commercial establishments were closed and only few vehicles were plying on roads in support of the separatists’ two-day strike call from today in Kashmir, where markets were functioning normally for the past five days.
Police said there was no curfew or restrictions in any part of the Kashmir valley though security forces remained deployed in strength to maintain law and order.
However, the markets, which witnessed good business in the city from last five days, were again closed while very less number of private and public vehicles, besides three-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in the summer capital and city outskirts.
Meanwhile, all shops were again closed in the main business hubs in Civil Lines, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, where very less number of vehicles could be seen plying on the road in view of separatist call.
The situation was no different in uptown and downtown Srinagar, where shops and business establishments, which were open for five days till yesterday, were again closed. Less number of public and private vehicles were plying on Airports roads in uptown and downtown as compared to last couple of days in view of the strike.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, spearheading the agitation since July 9, in its last weekly protest calendar had given strike call for only two days in a week in the first fortnight of January. This is for the third successive fortnight that only two-day strike call was given in a week. In its previous calendars, the separatists used to give relaxation only over the weekends.
Government offices and banks were also affected as some employees could not make it to their offices due to non availability of transport in Kashmir, including Srinagar.
A report from Baramulla said business and other activities again came to a grinding halt in support of separatist strike call in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir, where very few vehicles could be seen plying on roads and shopkeepers downed shutters. However, security forces and state police personnel remained deployed to stop protests after Friday prayers.
Despite chilly weather conditions, security forces remained deployed to stop protests after Friday prayers in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarter in south Kashmir, where shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads, a report from Anantnag said.
Similar reports were also received from central Kashmir districts of Badgam and Ganderbal, where life affected due to strike.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
