Shops shut in Srinagar after rumours of attacks

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 20

A week after business establishments resumed their daily schedule in Srinagar city, shopkeepers downed the shutters again on Wednesday noon after rumours of attacks on shop owners.

Shopkeepers closed their shops after a few hours on the Hari Singh High Street. “We closed our shops at 12 pm on Wednesday after rumours that youth are forcing shopkeepers to shut shops. We do not want to take any risk,” a shop owner said.

A senior police officer said, “No shopkeeper has been attacked. Just because of rumours, shop owners closed early on Wednesday. The situation is normal.”

From the past one-week, shops in Srinagar and outskirts have been opening for the entire day.

In August, a 60-year-old shopkeeper was killed by militants in Parimpora locality for opening his shop during the shutdown.

“We don’t want to take any risk as shopkeepers have become an easy target,” said a shopkeeper in Koker Bazar.

After abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the shops had remained closed for almost 100 days in the Valley during the daytime.

“On Thursday, we will open our shops only till the afternoon,” a shopkeeper on the Hari Singh High Street said.