India starts to lift restrictions in Kashmir

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir began restoring landline phone services Saturday after a nearly two-week security crackdown and news blackout following a decision by India’s government to downgrade the Muslim-majority region’s autonomy.

Shahid Choudhary, a government administrator in Srinagar, the region’s main city, said restrictions were being lifted in most areas and government offices were open. He also said on Twitter that food and other supplies were available “in abundance.”

Police said restrictions on the movement of people were relaxed in several parts of the region. “Situation remains peaceful,” they said on Twitter.

Rohit Kansal, another administrator in Srinagar, told reporters that public transport buses had started operating in some rural areas in Indian-controlled Kashmir. He also said cellphone and internet services had resumed in some districts, but news reports said that happened only in the Hindudominated Jammu region, which was not threatened by anti-India protests.

Security forces that blanketed the region remained on high alert after hundreds of people took to the streets for an anti-India protest following Friday prayers in Srinagar.

Thegovernment had imposedthe lockdown to avoid a violentreaction to its decision on Aug .5 to downgrade the autonomy of the region. The decision by the Hindu nationalist government in New Delhi hasraised tensions with Pakistanand touched off anger in theIndian-controlled portion ofKashmir.