Life paralysed in Kashmir for 80th day

Life remained paralysed in Kashmir Valley for the 80th day in a row on Monday due to separatist sponsored strike call and restrictions imposed by the government. Though no major incident of violence was reported from across the Valley, sporadic clashes between stone pelters and security forces continued in some areas in the evening. To quell the stone pelting in old city areas of Srinagar, the forces used teargas and pepper shells against the protesters.

In Civil Lines and uptown Srinagar, private vehicles and pedestrians ventured out but shops, commercial establishments, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed.

A police spokesman said the situation remained peaceful throughout Kashmir and vehicular traffic was seen in the Valley, including Srinagar city. He said 55 ‘miscreants,’ wanted in various offences of disrupting normalcy, were arrested in the past 24 hours from across the Valley.

Crackdown quells violence
The arrest of more than 5,000 alleged stone pelters by the Jammu and Kashmir police, has curbed street violence drastically in the Valley over the last one week. The arrest drive was launched by the police in August when the violence was at its peak.

“During the first 70 days of unrest, on an average every day more than 150 people were injured. However, in the last week or so, the average number of injured has come down to a mere 20,” officials said.