Srinagar, September 2
The beginning of Muslim's holy month of Ramzan brought a fresh lease of life into Kashmir today and the administration helped matters further by completely lifting the curfew as a goodwill gesture, driving people in thousands to markets as they attempted to bring their lives back on the tracks.
Shops and commercial establishments opened and transport services resumed after a long spell of separatist-called hartals and rallies and subsequent curfew. Heavy rush of people was seen in shops and banks as they tried to stock up on goods on the first day of Ramzan, knowing well how fragile normalcy is in Kashmir these days.
“I have bought my fill of kitchen items. You never know of tomorrow," Sayed Alam, a banker, said while shopping at a provisional store in Residency Road.
With its top leaders released, the coordination committee of separatists of all hues also asked people to resume their normal services till they meet to decide their future strategy. It's a moderation of their earlier ill-advised appeal on August 31— when their leaders were still under arrest — asking traders to keep their shops shut after 4 p.m., when people need edible items most as they break their fast in the evening. Some confusion prevailed regarding it and some people tried to force the closure of shops in downtown. Local sources in Sopore and Baramula said many shops were shut after 4 p.m. The executive Hurriyat (M) council, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, is also meeting tomorrow.
Jammu: The administration lifted the day curfew in Kishtwar and Poonch districts on Tuesday. Official sources said the curfew was relaxed from 2 pm till 10 pm. The night curfew would continue, a UNI report
said.
