Srinagar: Normal life remained disrupted for the 87th straight day in Kashmir on Wednesday with all shops and business establishments closed while public traffic remained off the roads to protest against the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir State into two Union Territories (UT’s).
The shutdown has intensified since Tuesday, when an unofficial delegation of European Union parliamentarians arrived in Srinagar for assessment of ground situation.
A complete shutdown was witnessed across that Valley on Wednesday with no shops opening, even briefly, in morning or evening hours.
There was no presence of vendors in streets either for second day in the city and other districts.
An increased deployment of government forces was seen at several places in Srinagar and in towns across the Valley.
Very less number of private vehicles compared to previous days were seen plying on roads, while public transport continued to remain off the roads.
“CRPF and police parties remained deployed to prevent people from gathering at and around historic Jamia Masjid in the city. The forces have closed all the gates of Jamia Masjid for worshippers,” a local resident said.
He said at several places in the city vehicles were being stopped and commuters frisked by the government forces.
Government forces used teargas to disperse youths hurling stones at several places of old city including at Narwara and Chattabal.
In south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag districts, there was a complete shutdown with very thin movement of private vehicles a day after the killing of five non-local labourers in Katrasoo village by unidentified gunmen.
Residents in Shopian, Kulgam and southern Pulwama confine themselves to their homes after sunset after unidentified gunmen targeted non-locals.
There was hardly any movement of trucks and trawlers in south Kashmir after authorities evacuated non-local drivers from the area.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, authorities deployed additional forces in the main market and on bridges- connecting down town with civil lines.

Mir Iqbal