Even though authorities restored postpaid mobile telephone service on Monday after remaining suspended for 71 days, life remained crippled in Kashmir valley, where people are protesting against scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, besides dividing the state into two Union Territories on August 5.
Meanwhile, internet connectivity and pre-paid mobile service remained suspended since August 5 as a precautionary measure in the valley, where train service between Baramulla in north Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region was yet to resume.
There is no curfew restriction in any part of the valley, where situation remained by and large peaceful during the past 24 hours in the Kashmir valley. However, a driver Sharief Khan, a resident of Rajasthan was killed by unidentified gunmen in Shopian on Monday evening. His truck , loaded with fruit, was also set on fire before escaping under the cover of darkness.
However, restriction under Section 144 CrPC continued and additional Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF) remained deployed in strength since August 5 to prevent any law and order problem.
Life came to halt again after witnessing business activities for about three hours from 0630 hrs to 0930 hrs in the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, and other business hubs in the summer capital today. Public transport was off the roads in the city. However, private vehicles and number of three wheelers were seen plying, particularly in the civil lines and uptown. A number of cabs continued to ply on district routes from different places in Srinagar, particularly in the morning and evening hours. The State Road Transport Corporation (SRT) buses also remained off the roads. Students continued to stay away from their institutions though government had announced reopening of schools and colleges besides schedule for 10th and 12th class examinations. The government had closed all educational institutions and asked outside students to leave on August 5.
The historic Jamia masjid, stronghold of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, presently under house arrest, remained closed for devotees since August 5. Adequate number of security forces remained deployed in the Jamia market and outside the worship place to maintain law and order.
Reports of continued shut down were also received from elsewhere in the valley. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pattan, Handwara and Sopore in north Kashmir. Reports of strike were also received from Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Pampore and Kulgam in south Kashmir, where additional security forces remained deployed to maintain law and order.
Similar reports were also received from central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Badgam.