Kashmir comes alive after 79 days of shutdown

Srinagar, Sept 26: Kashmir remained shut on Monday for the 80th consecutive day, although markets in Srinagar had opened and were booming with customers.

Markets in Lal Chowk and many other areas opened on Sunday evening and remained in business till late in the night.

Customers had thronged these markets and several areas had witnessed traffic snarls that the police took hours to clear.

Separatists had asked people to start normal activities after 2 p.m. on Sunday till 6 a.m. on Monday.

Despite the separatist's "relaxation" in protest calendar, some youths had appeared in south Kashmir areas forcing closure of markets.

Till now, the separatists has blamed the security forces for imposing restrictions during short periods of "separatist relaxation in protests".

Since July 9, the separatists, who have been under detention, have called for protests and shutdowns through weekly protest calendars, which were circulated through newspapers and other media.

A total of 87 civilians and two local policemen have died in clashes between mobs and the security forces in this period.

All educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other businesses have remained suspended across the Valley during this period.

The authorities have, however, been able to secure the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a key route for all essential supplies to the valley and carriage of fruit to outside markets.

It is the peak of apple harvesting season here and unless all the produce reaches the markets outside the valley on time, orchardists and the state's economy would suffer huge losses.

IANS