Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: A complete shutdown was observed in South Kashmir’s Shopian district today in protest against the Government’s decision to shift the office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Dy CEO) from the district headquarters to Chitragam.
Normal life was disrupted as shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport stayed off the roads during the day-long shutdown. No untoward incident was reported.
Leaders from across the political spectrum-including the BJP, Congress, PDP, JKAP, and Apni Party-joined traders, transporters, and civil society groups in opposing the move. Protesters described the decision as “politically motivated” and “administratively unjustified.”
Former and sitting MLAs, including Shabir Ahmad Kullay and Aijaz Ahmad Mir, condemned the relocation, alleging that it violated administrative norms. They said the move was made without proper assessment or zoning procedures.
A formal memorandum demanding a rollback of the decision has been submitted to the authorities, with protesters setting a one-week deadline.
They argued that shifting the Dy CEO office to Chitragam would inconvenience residents of nearly 250 villages across Shopian, while benefiting only a small section of the population. The protesters called for strengthening the district’s administrative structure by creating new offices instead of relocating existing ones.
They warned that the agitation would intensify if the government fails to revoke the order. The administration has not yet issued an official response.
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