Life returns to normal for a day in Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR - Life once again limped back to normal in Srinagar and other towns of the Kashmir Valley Friday with the lifting of curfew restrictions and the separatists calling off their protest for a day.

“Curfew has been lifted from Srinagar and all other towns of the valley today (Friday),” a police officer said here.

The hardline Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani asked people to resume normal activities of life for a day.

Educational institutions, shops, banks, post offices and other businesses opened after three days of curfews and separatist-sponsored shutdowns. Public and private transport vehicles also plied on the roads. Children wearing colourful uniforms were seen boarding school buses in various areas of the city.

The valley has been reeling under unprecedented violence, curfews and separatist shutdowns since June 11. Around 64 people have lost their lives during this turmoil.

The worst affected have been the students as universities, colleges and schools have functioned barely for ten days during the last 78 days.

“The worst beating has been taken by the educational system. Schools and colleges remaining closed for more than two months is unheard of,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, 54, a local businessman here.

“My son has to take his Class 10 exam this November and I wonder what will he do? He has hardly covered half the syllabus so far. This must be the plight of all other students in the valley,” he added.

Interestingly, the radical Jamaat-e-Islami, the parent organisation of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, appealed to the leader Thursday evening to moderate his resistance programme so that the education of Kashmiri youth was spared the pounding it has taken because of the present situation in the Kashmir Valley.