STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Increased public activity in Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir hinted at return of normalcy in the city, even as some other facets of life continued to remain affected due to the separatist- sponsored strike.
“Public transport has significantly improved in Srinagar and elsewhere. Apart from cabs and auto-rickshaws, a large number of buses are plying in the city,” officials said.
They said there has also been a significant increase in inter-district transport connecting the summer capital with the other district headquarters of the Valley.
While most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across Kashmir, many of these outlets were open in few areas in the interior city, in the civil lines as well as in the outskirts of the city.
“The situation has improved a lot. More shops are now opening and there is more transport with each passing day.The vendors are doing business as usual. All this hints at return of normalcy in the city, where many routes witnessed traffic snarls,” they said.
However, most of the schools and other educational institutions were closed.
They said similar reports of increased public activity were received from most of the other district headquarters of the Valley
The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani n July 8, have been issuing weekly protest programmes.
They have been announcing periodic relaxation in the strike on few days of the week. They have announced a 15-hour relaxation from 4 PM this evening.
Separatists extend shutdown by a week
Srinagar: Separatists on Wednesday extended the near about five-month long shutdown by a week even as the unrest is showing signs of fatigue with people defying the strike calls and increasing their activity.
The separatist camp, spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, extended the shutdown till December 8, while continuing the two-day full relaxation over the weekend.
It also announced 16-hour relaxation in the strike beginning 4 PM on Wednesday and Thursday but called for complete shutdown on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.
The camp asked the people to “exclusively” use public transport on the relaxation days for the support of the transport community.
Earlier in the day, most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remained open in civil lines as well as in interior areas and outskirts of the city.
“Public transport has significantly improved in Srinagar and elsewhere. Apart from cabs and auto-rickshaws, a large number of buses are plying in the city,” officials said.
They said similar reports of increased public activity were received from most of the other district headquarters of the Valley. During the full days’ relaxation on the weekends earlier, the Valley was abuzz with activity with people resuming their daily lives.
