Parts of Srinagar observe shutdown
SRINAGAR : Some parts of Srinagar, including the City Centre and Old City, remained closed on Wednesday. The shutdown coincided with Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed in Pakistan.
In the city’s business hub, Lal Chowk, shops from Press Enclave to Clock Tower remained closed. A large number of security personnel were also deputed in the area. Some businesses were also closed in Polo View.
A trader based in Lal Chowk, requesting anonymity, said, “The people of Pakistan have shown solidarity with us, in turn the shopkeepers have closed their shops.”
Business activities in the Old City were also affected as most shops and markets remained closed. There was heavy deployment of security forces in the area.
“A strike was observed and shops were closed in many parts of the Downtown area. Vehicles movement was also sparse,” said a resident of Nawhatta.
Shops and businesses remained open in the rest of the city and rural townships. Traffic also plied normally in these areas.
Each year, Pakistan observes February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day and takes out rallies across the region. This year, Pakistan increased its pitch after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked.
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan criticised the restrictions in Kashmir and also went to Muzaffarabad to address the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Assembly.
Mobile phone, landline and internet services were disconnected and restrictions imposed on movement of people in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on August 4, a day before the Centre withdrew its special status and divided it into two union territories — Jammu & Kashmir with a legislative assembly and Ladakh without one. Landlines were restored between mid-August and September and postpaid mobile services became functional on October 14. On January 25, the administration restored lowspeed mobile internet and fixedline connectivity in all districts.