Strong signs of normalcy in Central, North Kashmir dists

Shops open throughout day, schools reopen for first time

SRINAGAR: Nearing the completion of four months, the impact of unannounced shutdown across Kashmir Valley is fading away with the Central and North Kashmir districts showing very strong signs of normalcy.

On Tuesday, most shops in the Valley opened through the day even as several schools reopened after remaining closed for over three months following the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 provisions while most areas elsewhere in the valley continued to see a significant improvement in the movement of public transport.

Kashmir has been witnessing a shutdown since August 5 with shops opening only for a couple of hours in the morning and evening even as the government’s efforts to bring students back into educational institutions failed miserably in past weeks.

However, in summer capital as well as in Kupwara, Ganderbal, Bandipora and Budgam, the day-to-day life has started returning to a complete normalcy.

Notwithstanding the strong hold of militants and separatists elements—most of whom are under detention since August 5—the life has also started inching towards normalcy in four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, as well as in Baramulla, though far from what it was before the Article 370 was scrapped.

On Tuesday, for the first time since August 5, most shops in Kashmir opened through the day.

“Most of shops in the civil lines of the Srinagar city remained open throughout the day,” officials said.

"We have opened shops during daytime for the first time in three months. This may just help to make up for the business losses", said Muzaffar Ahmad, a shopkeeper at Nowpora, Srinagar.

Similar reports were reports from other districts of Central and North Kashmir.

“Situation is fast returning to normal in Central and North Kashmir. Did you see the stands of Police Training College, Manigam on Monday. It was overwhelming,” a top official told The News Now.

On Monday, a sizeable crowd had made its presence felt in Manigam in Ganderbal at the Passing Out-Cum Attestation Parade of the 14th Basic Recruitment Training Course (BRTC) of J&K police which was presided over by Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu.

The Centre's decision on August 5 led to an unannounced shutdown in the valley even as authorities imposed severe restrictions which were later gradually eased out.

While the shutdown continued in some areas, markets at most places have been following a new pattern of functioning -- opening early morning till around the noon.

The shopkeepers down their shutters in the afternoon -- at some places in the late afternoon -- to join the protest against the abrogation of the special status of the state.

“However, we are seeing significant improvement from past few days,” the officials confirmed the reports.

Tuesday also saw several schools reopening after a long gap.

The move by several private schools to resume classes came as public transport has started to ply in the Valley and life was fast returning to normalcy.

“The managements have decided to open the schools from 10 am to 1 pm and students have been asked to come without wearing the uniform,” the officials said.

Public transport has seen a comeback across the Valley though some pockets such as downtown Srinagar and South Kashmir are still off track.

The city and most areas elsewhere in the valley saw a significant improvement in the movement of public transport.

The officials said the intra-district as well as the inter-district connectivity has improved significantly.

“Auto-rickshaws and inter-district cabs have been plying for a while now, but in the last few days, the movement of intra-district cabs across the valley has also increased,” they added.

The officials said the private transport was plying unhindered. On Sunday, the rail service from Srinagar to Banihal also resumed after remaining suspended for over 100 days.

With most separatist and mainstream leaders detained, the shutdown was mostly voluntary.

Pre-paid mobile phones and all internet services in the Valley continue to remain suspended since 5 August.

Most of the top level and second rung separatist leaders have been taken into preventive custody, while mainstream leaders including two former chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- have been either detained or placed under house arrest.

The government has detained former chief minister and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah under the controversial Public Safety Act, a law enacted by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978 when he was the chief minister.