Article 35-A: Life crippled in Kashmir due to strike

TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/12/2017 3:14:10 PM Jammu and Kashmir

Life was today crippled in Kashmir valley due to a daylong strike called by separatists against alleged attempts being made to abrogate Article 35-A. Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and downtown in Srinagar as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem since early this morning. However, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday announced that there will be no change in the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) agreed by PDP and BJP at the time of forming coalition government.

“It has been agreed that there will be status quo on Article 370 of the constitution though both the coalition partners have different stand on the issue,” she said. Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) urged people to observe a strike today against alleged attempts being made to abrogate Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution. The strike was backed by many trader groups, including Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF). Class work was suspended in all educational institutions today in view of the strike and restrictions in the Valley, where train service has also been suspended as a precautionary measure.

Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road in civil lines and uptown Srinagar though few private vehicles, besides cabs and three-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in restriction-free areas. Business and other activities remained crippled in main business hubs of the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve-centre of summer capital, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Moulana Azad Road, Residency Road and Dalgate. Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets in restriction-free areas to prevent any untoward incident.

Business and other activities were crippled in entire south Kashmir, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian, where shops were closed and traffic was off the road. Security has been stepped up along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway to prevent protests. Reports of complete shutdown were also received from entire north Kashmir, where hundreds of security forces and state police personnel were deployed to stop protests. Similar reports were received from twin central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal.


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