Normal life still out of gear in Kashmir even as officials partially lift restrictions; schools remain shut, public transport off roads

Srinagar: Normal life remained affected in Kashmir as the stalemate following the abrogation of Article 370 entered its 39th day on Thursday with schools closed and public transport off the roads, officials said. Restrictions on the movement or assembly of people have been lifted from most areas of the valley, but security forces continued to be deployed to maintain law and order, the officials said. They said the authorities were also considering easing out restrictions on mobile communications and restoring voice call services. [caption id=“attachment_7318041” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] While landlines across the valley were functional, voice calls on mobile devices were working only in Kupwara and Handwara police districts of north Kashmir. The officials said some areas in Srinagar witnessed an increased movement of private transport, while few autorickshaws were also seen plying in some areas of the city. However, normal life remained severely affected across the valley due to shutdown which entered 39th day on Thursday, the officials said. Markets and other business establishments remained closed, while public transport was off the roads across the valley, they added. Internet services remained suspended across all platforms, the officials said. The efforts of the state government to open schools have not borne any fruit as parents continued to keep children at home due to apprehensions about their safety. Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians have been taken into custody while mainstream leaders including three former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — have also been either detained or placed under house arrest.