Day 63: Business of Life in Kashmir Remains Suspended 

SRINAGAR – A spontaneous shutdown triggered by an unprecedented lockdown following scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, besides dividing the state into two Union Territories entered 63^rd day in Kashmir valley, where business and other activities remained crippled.

There was no report of any major untoward incident in Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours, officials said, adding there was also no curfew restriction in any part of the valley on Sunday. However, restrictions under Section 144 CrPC, banning assemble of four or more persons, continued as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

All train services remained suspended so was public transport. Mobile and internet connectively too remained suspended for the 63rd day running.

All gates of the city’s Grand Mosque in the Shehar-e-Khas  remained closed for devotees. The Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF) remained deployed in the Jamia Market and outside the Masjid to maintain law and order. No prayers could be offered in the Masjid, including on Fridays due to restrictions.  Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was also off the roads.

Business and other activities remained closed in summer capital, Srinagar and its adjoining areas for the past 63 days. Public transport, including State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses, also remained off the roads on Saturday. But, private vehicles were plying on most of the routes in the city and outskirts while a number of cabs were also seen operating on some routes in the morning.

Shops and business establishments continue to function for about three hours from 0600 hrs to 0900 hrs in the summer capital, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city and other civil lines areas. However, later all shops were closed again for the day.

The famous Sunday market was open from Radio Kashmir, Srinagar crossing to Regal chowk only. However, the number of customers was very less due to non availability of transport service.

A large number of CRPF were seen deployed in strength in the city to prevent any law and order problem.  Security forces remained on high alert to close any road with barbed wire within shortest notice. Work in government offices and banks on main roads, particularly in the ground floor, remained affected in the civil lines and uptown.

There was no change in the situation elsewhere in the valley, where life remained paralysed with all shops and business establishments closed and traffic off the roads on Sunday.

Reports of shut down were also received from south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Awantipora, Tral and Kulgam. Business and other activities remained shut and public transport off the roads. However, private vehicles could be seen plying on some routes, including on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, where additional security forces remained deployed on the highway to prevent any stone pelting.

Shutdown continued for the 63rd day in this and other north Kashmir districts and tehsil headquarters, a report from Baramulla said. Large number of CPMF remained deployed to prevent any law and order problem. However, private vehicles and some cabs could be seen plying on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. Reports of continued strike were also received from central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal.

The internet and mobile connectivity of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) also remained suspended for the past 63 days in the valley. However, landline telephones are working normally.

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