Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Life in Kashmir valley came to a standstill due to shutdown called by separatists against the legal challenge in the Supreme Court on the validity of Article 35-A, which bars people from outside the State from acquiring any immovable property here.
Shops and business establishments were closed across the Kashmir valley while roads were deserted as transport was off the roads due to the strike call. The situation across the Valley mostly remained peaceful with stray incidents of stone pelting taking place at several places in the Valley.
Separatists have called for a two-day strike (Sunday and Monday) as Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a PIL challenging the validity of the Article 35-A on Monday.
Various organisations included Bar Association, transporters and traders’ bodies have extended support to the shutdown call.
The 27 traders’ body have already issued a week-long protest programme against the legal challenge in the Supreme Court on the validity of Article 35-A.
Security forces were deployed in strength at vulnerable places in the city and elsewhere in Kashmir for maintaining law and order. Barricades were erected at several places in and around Srinagar to prevent any law and order problem on the occasion.
Train services have been suspended in Kashmir valley for today and tomorrow in view of a strike called by separatists. A Railway official said there are apprehensions of law and order problem in the Valley, hence train service will remain suspended for two days on August 5 and 6.
Traders staged a sit-in at Lal Chowk to protest that they said the “legal onslaught” on the Article 35-A. The Kashmir Traders and Manufactures Federation(KTMF) members held a sit-in protest at Ghanta Ghar Lal Chowk to protest the attempts to scrap Article 35-A.
The KTMF members arrived at the historic Lal Chowk while carrying placards and banners. The protesters continued their protest till afternoon and warned of consequences if the Article 35A is tinkered with.
KTMF president Mohammad Yasin Khan said the hearing of the case on the sensitive Article 35 A has heightened tensions as the people are apprehensive of their fate and, thus, ready to sacrifice everything to safeguard their existence.
“When New Delhi should have been serious to take measures to improve situation through initiation of efforts for final settlement Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the State, some hidden forces are hell-bent to keep Kashmir on the boil through such sinister petitions, while people are being pushed towards a decisive battle,” Khan said.
Similar protests were held in other parts of the Valley at various district headquarters including Handwara, Tral, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian.
Protests have been held across the length and breadth of Kashmir over the past few days with mainstream parties like the National Conference and PDP also holding rallies in support of continuing Article 35-A.
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