Kashmir continues to be paralysed

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 20

Normal life continued to remain paralysed in Kashmir on the 16th consecutive day despite government easing restrictions in large parts of the Valley on Tuesday.

The restrictions were put in place on August 5 following the abrogation of Article 370.

Officials said the overall situation in Kashmir remained calm and under control. Youths had put barricades on interior roads and link roads in city areas of Hawal, Lal Bazar, Soura, and Ellahi Bagh in Srinagar.

While the shops and business establishments remained closed across the valley, the public transport remained off the roads. Private transport was seen plying on the city roads.

The landlines that  were partially restored were snapped  in many areas of the valley. People in some areas, including  city centre Lal Chowk, complained that the connections remained functional only for a few hours on Monday morning and were snapped only last evening.

However, the J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal claimed that the situation was returning to normal.

“In Kashmir valley alone, 50 out of 111 police stations have no daytime  restrictions and government offices are reporting more than normal attendance,” Kansal said in the press briefing. “In areas where there are relaxations, public transport has begun to function. And we have reports of inter-district transport from today.”