Markets coming back to life, banks witness rush in Kashmir

Srinagar: Hundreds of vendors put up their stalls at the weekly flea-market in the city today while banks across Kashmir witnessed a rush of customers in view of the demonitisation of 500 and 1000 currency notes, bringing some semblance of normalcy in the unrest-hit Valley.

Normal life has remained paralysed in Kashmir due to unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul Majhideen militant Burhan Wani in July.

However, there was increased movement of people and public transport, except buses, in Srinagar. Apart from private vehicles, auto-rickshaws and inter- district cabs were also plying in large numbers, officials said.

They said that hundreds of vendors had put up their stalls at the weekly flea-market, also known as Sunday market, which witnessed huge rush of customers along TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis through Lal Chowk city centre for winter season shopping.

Some shops were also open in the areas in the civil lines and the outskirts of the city as well as in some of the rural areas in other districts of Kashmir, the officials said.

Banks were open across the Valley and customers queued up to exchange their notes in view of the demonitisation of 500 and 1000 currency notes.

However, most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in the rest of the Valley were shut due to the separatist-sponsored strike.

The separatists have been issuing weekly protest programmes.

As many as 85 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the unrest in the Valley. Around 5000 security forces personnel have also been injured in clashes.

PTI

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