Article 35A row: life remains crippled in Kashmir

Normal life in Kashmir remained crippled on Thursday due to the strike called by separatists against the legal challenge in the Supreme Court on the validity of Article 35A.

The two-day strike has been called by separatists to support Article 35A, a law which bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in Jammu and Kashmir. Article 35A has been challenged through a bunch of petitions in the apex court and the hearing is scheduled for Friday before a three-judge bench.

Various organisations including Kashmir Bar Association, transporters and traders' bodies have extended support to the shutdown call. On the first day of the strike, shops, business establishments, educational institutions and offices were closed across the Valley while all kinds of transport remained off the roads due to the strike called.

Fearing protests, authorities have imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and other sensitive areas of the Valley. The CRPF and police were deployed in huge numbers in vulnerable other parts of the Valley.

“Restrictions were imposed in seven police station areas in Srinagar on Thursday which would also continue on Friday,” a police spokesperson said and added the restrictions are purely ‘preventive’ in nature and have been imposed to maintain law and order.

Intra-Kashmir train services will remain suspended for Friday due to the prevailing situation, a senior railway official said.

The University of Kashmir has also rescheduled all entrance exams for admission to various post-graduate courses.

Protests have been held across Kashmir over the past few weeks with mainstream parties like the National Conference and the PDP also holding rallies in support of continuing Article 35A.