‘Relaxations given in 50 police stations, stray incidents of violence reported
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 18
Government today said that over 190 primary schools will re-open tomorrow in Srinagar, besides restoring full functionality of Government offices across Kashmir valley.
Addressing an evening presser here, Principal Secretary, Planning & Development, Rohit Kansal said that the process of easing of Prohibitory Orders and providing relaxations continued on Sunday as well.
He said the relaxations were provided in 50 police stations today as against 35 police stations yesterday (Saturday) and the duration in the relaxation was increased from six hours to eight hours.
However, stray incidents of violence were reported in Jammu and Kashmir after curbs were eased on Saturday. The security forces fired tear gas canisters to disperse the mobs that had gathered in a few places. Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said only 8 persons were injured in around 6 incidents. He however added that these incidents did not take place in areas where the curbs were eased.
Restrictions were tightened in some parts of the city on Sunday following few incidents of violence a day earlier, even as the first batch of Haj pilgrims returned to Kashmir from Saudi Arabia, officials said.
This led to people coming out and there were also vehicles plying on the road. He further added that more than 23,000 landline phone connections were made functional.
The officials said the flights carrying around 300 pilgrims landed at the Srinagar airport in the morning.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth movement of pilgrims to their respective destinations, they said.
“Only one family member is allowed at the airport to receive the Hajis. A fleet of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses has been deployed to facilitate the movement of Hajis and their relatives with the coordination of all district administrations,” the officials said.
The security forces, they said, have been directed to allow passage of pilgrims and their relatives, who have already been issued passes, through the areas where restrictions are in place.
Hoping to continue the relaxation in coming days, Mr Kansal said that no untoward incident was reported from the areas where relaxation was provided; adding traffic including public transport plied and shopkeepers opened their businesses.
He said that it was the endeavour of the Government to restore all the landlines to their full functionality as soon as possible and the BSNL officers and technicians are working continuously to restore working of exchanges across Kashmir valley.
He added that the government would attempt to restore infrastructural and developmental works as the overall situation further improves.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary was also present on the occasion.
On Saturday evening, Kansal said protests took place at six places in the valley in which eight persons suffered injuries.
Some private vehicles were seen plying in the civil lines areas of the city and the other district headquarters of the valley, they said. Some shops were also open in those areas, they added.
Meanwhile Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said though “some people” do not want peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the situation is returning to normal in the state following the abrogation of Article 370.
“The situation is becoming normal in the valley and lot of issues are coming to fore…There are some people who do not want the situation to turn normal in the valley,” the BJP leader said.
