Wednesday 13th May, 2026
Srinagar, Jul 14: Life returned to normal in Kashmir valley on Sunday after remaining crippled for a day due to a strike called by separatists against killing of 22 Kashmiris outside the Central Jail, Srinagar in firing by police during Dogra rule in 1931.
Meanwhile, the famous ‘Sunday Market’ from Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, crossing to Hari Singh High Streets witnessed heavy rush since this morning.
A police official told UNI that restrictions imposed in parts of downtown Srinagar on Saturday were lifted since early this morning. “Security forces deployed in strength across the city on Saturday have also been withdrawn,” he added.
All roads leading to Martyrs grave yard at Khawaja Bazar in the down town, which were closed on Saturday to prevent people from going there, were reopened on Sunday morning. All the gates of historic Jamia Masjid, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, have been reopened for worshipers on Sunday after remaining closed on Saturday.
Shops and business establishments, which remain open on Sundays, reopened and traffic on all routes was plying normally in summer capital, Srinagar, and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in Kashmir.
All the shops were open in the main business hubs in civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, Gonikhan, Residency Road, Maulana Azad Road, Mahraj Bazar, Batamaloo, Iqbal Park, Dalgate, Regal Chowk and Budshah Chowk.
The situation was no different in downtown and uptown, where shops and business establishments reopened after day-long strike.
Hundreds of vendors have set up their stalls on both sides of about 3-km-long Sunday roads, attracting buyers from different parts of the valley.
Security force and state police personnel deployed in the Jamia Market in downtown to prevent people from entering the worship place on Saturday have been withdrawn and shops have reopened early this morning in the area. Business and other activities also resumed in the twin central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal.
Reports of normalcy were also received from other parts of the Valley, including Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora and Pattan in north and Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama in south Kashmir.
The separatists had called for strike on Saturday. However, the day is also observed as official holiday in the state. Governor Satya Pal Malik, leaders of different political parties and separatists on Saturday paid tributes to martyrs on the occasion.