Barring some areas, life returns to normal in Kashmir

Srinagar/ April, 17: Barring Batmaloo in Srinagar civil lines and Pulwama in south Kashmir, life returned to normal after day-long strike against killing of a youth in security force firing on Saturday in the valley.
However, massive clashes were reported Monday at various places in Kashmir, where students protested against alleged use of disproportionate force by security forces on pupils of Degree College Pulwama on Saturday.
A police official said there were no restrictions imposed in anywhere in the valley though security forces remained deployed in strength to maintain law and order.
Shops and business establishments reopened this morning and traffic on all routes was plying normally in summer capital, Srinagar, and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in the valley.
However, business and other activities remained paralysed for the second day Monday in Batmaloo, where a youth was killed in security force firing on Saturday.
Shops and business establishments reopened in major business hubs, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Residency road and Moulana Azad road, Maisuma, Batmaloo and Dalgate. But, shopkeepers had to down shutter several times during the day due to clashes on M A road and Maisuma.
Meanwhile, work in government offices and banks was also normal. Educational institutions, which wore a deserted look for two days till yesterday due to strike, were also functioning normally.
Similarly, situation was also normal in north Kashmir, where business and other activities were functioning normally. Traffic was also plying normally on all routes in north Kashmir districts, including Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.
Life remained crippled in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, where situation remained tense after over 40 students, including girls, were injured in security force action in Degree College Pulwama on Saturday. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road in Pulwama for the third day Monday though few private vehicles could be seen plying on some routes.
But, normalcy returned in other south Kashmir towns and tehsil headquarters, where shops and business establishments were open and traffic was plying on all roads.