Kashmir schools to open today

Life remained paralysed in the Kashmir Valley for the 12th consecutive day on Wednesday, with separatists calling for a shutdown till Monday. To counter the separatists’ call, the government on Wednesday evening announced that all the schools in the “peaceful” districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, Budgam and Ganderbal will reopen on Thursday after summer vacations.

Earlier, the government had extended the vacations in all educational institutions till July 25. Meanwhile, Kashmir-based newspapers would hit the stands from Thursday, after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti assured the editors and owners that her government was committed to the independence of the media at all costs.

During a meeting, the chief minister said complaints of high-handedness against the press, if any, will be looked into.  “There has been no deliberate attempt on the part of the government to impose any restriction on the publication of newspapers.However, whatever has happened, because of some communication gap, is regrettable,” she said.

The state government was widely criticised for censoring the media and on Monday Amitabh Mattoo, advisor to the chief minister, said the decision to ban the publication of newspapers in the Valley did not have the consent of the chief minister “and might have been taken at the local level for which heads will roll”.

Meanwhile, a 75-year-old man from Khumriyal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, who was hit by a bullet last week when forces had reportedly opened fire on unarmed protesters, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS hospital here, doctors said.

With this, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir has touched 47. More than 3,200 people have been injured. The violence erupted over the encounter of Hizbul Mujaideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.