By Sheikh Imran Bashi, AIP
Srinagar: Life is slowly picking up in Kashmir as the curfew lifted on Sunday after nine days of violence and curfew. Curfew was lifted in the Srinagar and most other towns in the Kashmir Valley.
Markets were open despite it being a Sunday and vehicles were seen plying as usual on the roads. Restrictions were lifted from seven police station areas that were under curfew the past week.
People were seen buying essential commodities at the marketplace in Srinagar and shopkeepers were happy to get their business back on track.
City roads once again returned to life with most main roads clogged with traffic. Street vendors were seen setting up their stalls by the roadside to cash in on the hustle and bustle that returned to the area after the curfew was lifted.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a vegetable vendor told Agence India Press that, after many days today shops have reopened as the curfew has been lifted, and there is no shutdown. There is a lot of crowd in the market so with God’s blessings the business is expected to be good as because of strike and all, we had to incur a lot of losses.
Curfew was also lifted from north Kashmir Sopore town Sunday, which was suffering in cycle of violence. Restrictions were withdrawn from adjacent Baramulla town as well where two youth were killed in firing by Central Reserve Police Force personnel.
Day curfew has been lifted in Sopore town following the improvement in situation, though night curfew would remain in force till further orders, an official spokesman said. “Day curfew has been lifted in the town but night curfew would remain in force till further orders,” he said.
Curfew was relaxed for two hours on Sunday morning in Anantnag but had to be re- imposed after groups of youths took to streets and clashed with police.
As authorities announced relaxation in curfew at 8 am for two hours in Anantnag, groups of youths came out on the roads at Lal Chowk and staged a march. Police officer told Agence India Press that, police and paramilitary forces deployedin the town tried to disperse them and the protestors threw stones, prompting re-imposition of curfew in the town.
Curfew was imposed in Anantnag town on June 29 following death of three persons in clashes between protestors and security forces. At least 11 people have been killed in the Kashmir Valley in firing by security forces on stone-pelting mobs protesting against alleged human rights violations.