Kashmir Valley returns to normalcy for a day

SRINAGAR - Life again bounced back to normal in Srinagar and other towns of the Kashmir Valley Monday as the authorities lifted curfew and the separatists called off their shutdown and protests for a day.

There will be no curfew restrictions in Srinagar and other towns of the valley today (Monday), a senior police officer said here.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani also asked people to resume normal life for a day Monday.

Shops, other business establishments, educational institutions, banks and post offices were open and public transport plied normally.

But the common people say they have had enough of the cycle of shutdowns and curfew restrictions.

I purchased my autorikshaw after my mother sold her gold jewellery. I am totally confused about my future now. In the last four months, my autorikshaw plied hardly for 10 days, said Muneer Ahmad, a 26-year-old autorikshaw driver here.

Geelani has already called for another shutdown of two days beginning Tuesday, following which he would announce another weekly protest calendar.

As part of their ‘Quit Kashmir’ campaign, separatists have been issuing protest calendars, paralysing life across the valley for nearly four months now.

As many as 109 people have lost their lives in clashes with the security forces since June 11 when the present unrest started in the Kashmir Valley.