Normal life continues to be hit in Kashmir for the 73rd consecutive day

Normal life continued to be affected in Kashmir for the 73rd consecutive day on Wednesday (October 16) since restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir during the time of abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.

The main market and other business establishments remained shut.

Most of the public transport stayed off the roads, according to officials. However, private transport, auto-rickshaws, and a few cabs were seen plying unhindered in the city and elsewhere in the valley, they said. Other modes of public transport were not seen on the roads.

In a few areas, including the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, shops opened for a few hours early in the morning, they said. A few vendors had also set up stalls on the TRC Chowk-Polo View road, the officials said.

Also read: Hours after mobile service restoration, SMSes blocked in Kashmir

Schools and colleges were open, but students stayed away since their parents didn’t want their wards to go to school over apprehensions about their safety.

Mobile services were restored in Kashmir on Monday (October 14) but the SMS facility was blocked once again hours later. Internet services across all platforms are still not back in the valley, the officials said.

Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody. Mainstream leaders, including two former chief ministers – Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been either detained or placed under house arrest.

A sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, who was also the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been arrested under the controversial Public Safety Act. The law was enacted by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978.