Pulwama Traders Call for 2-day Shutdown

Srinagar: Complete shutdown was observed Friday by traders in Pulwama town against what the traders said vandalism and high handedness by forces on Thursday in the market.

All the shops and business units were closed and public transport was off the roads. However, thin movement of private cars was witnessed in the town. Colleges, schools were open today and no protest or stone pelting was reported in the town.

The traders have called for two-day shutdown beginning today. A trader in the town said that the forces on Thursday vandalized their merchandise during the protests by students.

The traders said that the forces fired teargas shells into their shops and units, which damaged their merchandise.

We are already running in losses because of the ongoing student protests. And now the vandalism by forces is another blow to us, the trader said.

Illegal Logging, Encroachment & Tourism Threaten Tosamaidan

J&K’s Power Generation Drops By 80%

The traders said that in the last five days they did not shut their shops during student protests as we dont want to incur losses on our business and want the situation in the town to be peaceful.

But forces compelled us to close down our shops. Yesterday, we took out a peaceful protest against the vandalism and high handedness of the police and CRPF, but police beat us and fired teargas canisters into our shops, damaging our merchandise, they said.

The situation in the town has been violent since April 15 after an army vehicle entered into the Government Degree College campus on April 12. Protests by students have the government worried in the state, forcing it to close down schools and colleges in Srinagar and other districts. (KNS)

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