Kashmir valley limps back to normalcy, Jammu still tense

Srinagar, July 02 : Normal life resumed in the Kashmir valley today with the revocation of the forest land transfer to the Amarnath shrine board yesterday by the State Cabinet and the separatists calling off their nine days strike.

Normal business activities have resumed and educational institutions have been reopened.

Vehicular traffic and inter-district bus services, which were at a standstill during the agitation, were back on the roads as State and Central Government offices and banks resumed work today.

Also all shops and markets are open and there is an all-round sense of relief in the valley and people have started buying food and essential commodities.

Meanwhile, more than two to three thousand Amaranth pilgrims who were back from the holy cave and got stranded in Srinagar due to the continuous shutdown for nine days moved back to their respective destinations as the shutdown ended today.

Five persons were killed and over 450 others, including 100 policemen, were injured in the past ten days in police firing and clashes between the demonstrators and the law enforcing agencies in the valley.

However, in Jammu agitation continued and curfew remained in force for the second day.

At least ten people were injured today in fresh clashes when protesters, opposing revocation of land transfer to Amarnath shrine board, fought pitched battles with police in several places in the Jammu region.

Rallies were held by migrants, from three camps in Muthi, Purkhoo and Naurkhoo areas in Jammu.

They blocked Jammu-Poonch and Jammu-Srinagar highways and demanded action against policemen involved in Tuesday's firing in which three persons were seriously wounded.

Police fired in the air in Muthi area housing migrants after baton charge failed to disperse protesters who defied the curfew orders.

The agitators also marched to the residence of Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma and staged a demonstration. They burnt effigies of Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad and People's Democratic Party patron Mufti Sayeed.

ANI