Life limping back to normalcy in Valley
By Reyaz Ahmad, NAK,
Srinagar/Baramulla : Thousands of people including women and children shouting freedom slogans today reached Pampore to mourn 30 protesters including senior Hurriyat leader Shiekh Abdul Aziz, while the situation baring stray incidents remain calm across kashmir valley.
People from all small and big towns in cars, buses, jeeps and trucks reached Pampore town, the residential town of the slain Hurriyat leader to take part in mourning ceremony.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik besides other senior leaders also joined the people who throng from all parts of Kashmir.
In his address Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told reporters that the gathering must open the eyes of the Indians as every soul wants freedom.
Police and other para military forces maintained restraint and did not disturb disrupt the demonstrators who even hoisted green and black flags and chanted slogans against government of India.
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir were asked not to use force against peaceful demonstrations following which security forces remained at a distance to avoid provoking people coming to join the mourning function.
Meanwhile, life limped back to normal in Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam and other districts where curfew was lifted yesterday.
After weeks of violent protests, curfew and killings, life was limping back to normal on streets in North Kashmir’s Baramulla with people moving on roads to buy household items and other essentials form markets.
Notwithstanding torment and trepidation visible on the faces of people who turned to markets with less transport available on roads, there was some relaxation and respite to the people who suffered due to lack essential commodities.
“It is good curfew was lifted, people had nothing to cook and eat and common man suffered a lot with continue strike and curfew,” said Nazir Ahmed Shiekh, a local resident of Mirhar Baramulla.
People thronged to vegetable and mutton shops and hospitals today and were seen in busy fetching essentials to their homes.
“The most sufferers are cigarette smokers, if I don’t have food but cigarette is essential that too when it is tension. There was shortage of cigarettes in village shops,” Irshad Ahmad told NAK.
However, in the afternoon, youth pelted stones on CRPF personnel guarding demolished bunkers near fish Market Bridge at Baramulla and later got dispersed.
Reports from other districts of North and south Kashmir said that the situation remained peaceful and shops were seen open with people purchasing essential commodities.
Hospitals are short of drugs and equipments necessary for treating critically injured during the clashes and if the situation continues, Kashmir will face an acute crisis, claims an international organization ACIDACTION adding Facilities in Kashmir’s hospitals, already abysmally inadequate are being pushed beyond coping point as the latest conflict over the transfer of forest land to Amarnath shrine board spirals.
Ambulances have no first aid or oxygen equipment leading to preventable deaths. Patients, who do not have access to ambulances, need desperate help as security forces are not allowing people to ply vehicles on the roads, they claimed.