Normal Life Remains Hit In Kashmir For 83rd Day

Normal life remained affected in Kashmir for the 83rd consecutive day on Saturday as the main markets were shut and public transport was off the roads, officials said.

Some shops opened for a few hours early in the morning in some areas, including in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk in Srinagar, but downed their shutters around 11 am, they added.

These shops witnessed a huge rush of customers and the increased number of private vehicles led to traffic snarls at several places in the city centre and the adjoining areas, the officials said.

However, the main markets and other business establishments remained shut across the valley, they added.

Autorickshaws and a few inter-district cabs were plying in a few areas of the valley, but other modes of public transport were off the roads, the officials said.

Internet services — across all platforms — continue to be snapped across the valley since the night of 4 August — hours before the Centre announced its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the state into two Union territories.

The internet services were snapped, along with mobile and landline telephone services. While landline services were restored gradually first, postpaid mobile services were restored only last week. Pre-paid services continue to remain barred.

Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody, while mainstream leaders, including two former chief ministers — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — have either been detained or placed under house arrest.

Another former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, has been arrested under the controversial Public Safety Act, a law enacted by his father and National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978 when he was the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Recent Posts

  • Featured

The Curious Case Of Google Trends In India

For nine of the last ten years, the most searches were for why Apple products and Evian water are so…

1 day ago
  • Featured

Here’s How Real Journalists Can Lead The War Against Deepfakes

Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and AI is the elephant in the room. There…

1 day ago
  • Featured

How India Can Do More To Protect Workers In War Zones

When 65 Indian construction workers landed in Israel on April 2 to start jobs once taken by Palestinians, they were…

1 day ago
  • Featured

“This Is In Honour Of The Adivasis Fighting For Their Land, Water, Forest”

Chhattisgarh-based environmental activist Alok Shukla was conferred the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for leading a community campaign to protect the…

1 day ago
  • Featured

Why Has PM Ignored Plight Of Marathwada’s Farmers: Congress

On Tuesday, 30 April, the Congress accused PM Narendra Modi of ignoring the plight of farmers in Marathwada and also…

2 days ago
  • Featured

Punjab’s ‘Donkey Flights’ To The Conflict Zones Of The World

Widespread joblessness explains why Punjab’s migrants resort to desperate means to reach their final destinations. Dunki in Punjabi means to hop,…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.