Article 35 A: Train service suspended in Kashmir

Srinagar: Train service was on Sunday suspended for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for two-day strike from today against any move to weaken the Article 35 A.
The Supreme Court (SC) will hear on Monday (August 6) a number of writ petitions challenging Article 35 A, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state. The Article provides special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
We have received a fresh advisory from the police to suspend all trains in the Kashmir valley today and tomorrow for security reasons, a senior railway official told UNI.
He said no train will chug on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir today. Similarly all trains were also suspended on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region, he added.
He said railway authorities are acting on the advice of local administration who are taking decisions to suspend train service keeping in view the security and safety of passengers, railway staff and other property, he said adding in the past railways suffered damages worth crores of rupees during demonstrations and protests in the valley, where trains, railway stations and tracks were targeted.
This was the first time in the month of August train service was suspended in the valley.
Train service has become very popular in the valley since it is very cheap, fast and safe as compared to other mode of transport.