Old city traders to resume normal business from Sunday

Srinagar: Traders observed a complete shutdown on Saturday against the Forces action inside historical Jamia Masjid where over 100 persons including women and children were injured after Friday congregational prayers when Government Forces fired pellets and lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse the stone-throwing youth.
All the shops and business establishments remained shut across old city. The call for shutdown was forwarded by Jamia Market Traders Federation and other bodies of Srinagar city.
Scores of traders staged a peaceful protest around Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta. They alleged that police and troopers intentionally cordon off Jamia Masjid on every Friday and provoke youth. “There will be no clashes if there will be no presence of police around Jamia Masjid. We fail to understand why Government Forces in combats are eager to fight youth on every Friday,” the protesting traders said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik addressed people present at the Jamia Masjid. They condemned Forces action and termed it as brutal and uncalled for.
Meanwhile, Traders Bodies called off their strike after they reportedly been assured that Forces personnel will not be deployed around Jamia Masjid.
“We will see what will be the new move of the government. If it will deploy government forces around Jamia Masjid, we will go for indefinite strike and vice versa. So far, we have decided to resume the normal business from tomorrow,” Javaid Ahmed Zargar, President Jamia Market Traders Federation said.