Life returns to normal in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 14: Life returned to normal on Saturday in the Kashmir valley, where a day-long strike was observed on Friday to commemorate Martyrs Day in remembrance of those killed in 1931, with business and other activities functioning and traffic plying on all routes.

A complete shutdown was observed on Friday when separatists had called “ Martyrs grave yard Challo” in the downtown city to pay tributes and and fateha to 22 martyrs who were killed outside the central Jail 87 years ago by Dogra police.

Shops and business establishments reopened this morning in the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, and other business hubs. Business and other activities also resumed in the uptown and outskirts after remaining paralysed yesterday.

Life also returned to normal in the downtown, where authorities had imposed restrictions yesterday to prevent separatists from paying tributes to martyrs.

Government offices, banks and educational institutions, which were closed yesterday due to official holiday on account of martyrs day, are functioning normally today.

Reports of normalcy were also received from other parts of the valley.