Kashmir nears normalcy

TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/20/2019 11:01:49 AM

SRINAGAR: On the third day of relaxation given in Valley, no major incident of law and order violation was reported in Valley, even as the life looked slowly returning to normal, the state government said on Monday.
It said that the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar recorded 98 per cent attendance which is picking up rapidly in other Government offices also—reopened today, while the encouraging response to reopening of primary schools has helped it decide to re-open all middle level schools across Kashmir valley from Wednesday.
This was stated during a joint evening presser here, addressed by top Jammu and Kashmir administration officials including Director Information and Public Relations, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, Deputy Inspector General of Police (CKR), VK Birdi and Director School Education Kashmir, Muhammad Younis Malik.
Asgar told reporters here that the presence of staff at all the primary level schools on Monday was an encouraging sign and the administration has decided to re-open all the middle schools across Kashmir on Wednesday.
"Some rumours were spread yesterday by certain elements. The government urges people not to believe in any kind of rumour-mongering by vested interests," she said.
"There has been no major law and order situation reported from across the valley. Life is slowly returning to normal. Public in general has been cooperative," Asgar said.
DIG Birdi said no incidents of law and order violation were reported on Monday and all the areas where there have been relaxations, or relaxations were extended, have been peaceful.
"There was some minor incidents of stone-pelting in certain pockets but those were dealt as per law and the miscreants were dispersed," he said.
The situation is being monitored very closely and the situation is returning slowly to the normal. In general, there has been no major law and order incident, he said.
In Srinagar city, barricades were removed from areas where the situation has remained peaceful since the Centre announced the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two union territories on August 5.
Markets in the Valley were shut while public transport remained off roads. The movement of private vehicles in the city increased after restrictions were eased.
Regarding the availability of supply stock in the Valley, it was informed that the essential services like PHE, PDD, Food & Civil Services, etc are working continuously.
It was also informed that the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar recorded 98 per cent attendance which is picking up rapidly in other Government offices also.
The officials said the relaxations are being given by the concerned deputy commissioners in their respective areas, adding no report of any untoward incident was received today during the relaxation period.
They said that there was no law and order incident reported from Jammu region while urging people not to pay heed to rumours.
Earlier, teachers reported to work in many schools in Kashmir as restrictions were eased further, but not many students were seen.
The officials said the government has made necessary arrangements for opening of 190 primary schools in Srinagar city as security forces remained deployed in most of the valley.
But all private schools in the city remained shut for the 15th consecutive day as parents were apprehensive about the security situation in view of violent protests over the past two days. Only Police Public School at Bemina and a few Kendriya Vidyalayas saw a handful of students turning up.
"There is so much uncertainty in the situation that sending kids to school at this stage is out of question," Farooq Ahmad Dar, a parent, said.
The officials in Baramulla district said schools in five towns remained closed. In the rest of the district, schools were opened, they said.
"There is no relaxation in restrictions in Pattan, Palhalan, Singhpora, Baramulla and Sopore towns. Primary schools in the rest of the district are open. We are collecting details about the number of students who have reported at their respective schools," an official said.
A senior Srinagar district official said a few schools on the periphery were opened but in the old city and in Civil Lines areas, they remained shut due to violence over the past two days.
The authorities had planned to open schools up to primary level and make all government offices functional from Monday.


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