By IANS,
Srinagar : Life in Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Srinagar, especially in the uptown areas, started returning to normal Wednesday with educational institutions, markets and public transport operating as usual two days after a blaze that gutted a 300-year-old shrine triggered widespread protests.
In the old city areas of the city however, restrictions on vehicular and pedestrian movement would continue in six police station areas, an official said here Wednesday.
“Restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular movement will continue in areas falling under the police stations of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safadal and Kralkhud in Srinagar city today,” the official said.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been made in the areas placed under restrictions to prevent any breach of peace there.
High tension had gripped Srinagar city on Monday after a mysterious fire destroyed the over 300-year-old shrine of the Muslim saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani known popularly as Peer Dastgeer by Muslims and Kahnoow by Kashmiri Hindus.
The state government has ordered a probe into the fire incident to be completed expeditiously by Kashmir divisional commissioner, Asgar Hassan Samoon.
Syed Khalid Hussain Geelani, the custodian of the holy relics at the shrine has dispelled the possibility of an electric short circuit triggering the blaze.
“There was no electricity in the shrine when the fire broke out”, the custodian of the holy relics has told media.
The state police has also formed a special investigating team (SIT) to ascertain the cause that triggered the blaze.
“We are looking at all possible angles. As yet we have not reached any conclusion,” Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, Senior Superintendent of Police (Srinagar) said.
Meanwhile, senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and others have been placed under arrest by the authorities in Srinagar although there was no official confirmation of the same.