Kupwara: Scores of traders Monday staged a peaceful sit-in at Pratap Park Srinagar against the alleged NIA harassment. The traders were protesting against the summoning of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) president Yasin Khan by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Khan was asked to present himself at NIA headquarter in Delhi on Monday. “We would continue our peaceful protest until Yasin Sahab leaves the NIA headquarter,” said a protesting trader.
Kashmir Traders Federation Spokesperson Ajaz Shahdhar while expressing discriminatory harassment of members of the business community by investigating agencies, said the NIA has turned the principle of “presumption of innocence until proved guilty” on its head by treating all persons of interest in this manner.
Eyewitnesses said that a protest was staged in Tral town of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district against the recent civilian killings and the NIA alleged harassment.
Meanwhile, normal life was affected due to shutdown that was called by traders and supported by Joint Resistance Leadership. Business establishments including the shops in city centre Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas remained shut while in old Srinagar city, authorities had imposed restrictions to maintain law and order.
Life was also affected in other parts of districts and towns due to shutdown. Reports of shutdown poured in from South Kashmir’s Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts. In North and Central Kashmir also a shutdown was observed. Shops remained closed, however, private and public transport plied on the roads.
Meanwhile Rail service was again suspended in the Kashmir valley for security reasons following strike called by traders and transporters and supported by separatists in protest against summoning more people by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with terror funding.
We have suspended all train runs in the Kashmir valley, a senior railway official said.
He said a fresh advisory was received last night from the civil administration and police to suspend the train service in the valley for security reasons.
Therefore, he said, there would be no train run between Srinagar-Badgam in the central Kashmir to Baramulla in north. Similarly no train will chug on Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region route Monday.
We have to act as per directions from the administration, he said adding decision to resume train service tomorrow will also depend upon the advisory from the police later Monday.
