Srinagar, Aug 12: Markets opened and it was business as usual in Kashmir Valley after noon on Thursday as Hurriyat Conference (G) had called off strike for a day owing to the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
However the day started with protests just after dawn prayers. Witnesses said as soon as people, mainly young boys, came out of Masjids after dawn prayers, they staged protests in several parts of the downtown including Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara and Safa Kadal, raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They pelted stones on CRPF troopers at several places.
Witnesses said a group of youth attacked CRPF men camping in the erstwhile Shiraz cinema at Khanyar. The CRPF men, caught unawares, chased the protesters and entered into residential areas smashing window panes and beating up civilians.
The situation, however, improved by the noon as shops, businesses, banks, courts, offices opened and traffic started to ply normally.
The commercial hub of Lal Chowk and its neighbourhood including Residency Road, Batamaloo, Hari Singh High Steet witnessed huge rush as people flocked markets, banks and ATMs. Ration depots, fuel stations also saw huge rush of people as shoppers stocked supplies.
Due to heavy rush, massive traffic jams were witnessed on the city roads.
Similar reports were received from other districts and towns of the Valley with people resuming work after mid-day. People thronged market places in towns and district headquarters.
Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had asked people to resume work after 12 noon.
In south Kashmir’s Islamabad town, people staged protests and pelted stones on police and CRPF men at Lal Chowk in the morning.
However, people resumed work in the noon.

ALTAF BABA ADDS FROM VARMUL:
A cavalcade including Srinagar-Muzaffrabad bus was attacked by protesters during early hours on Thursday near Pattan, resulting in injury to a passenger of Pak administered Kashmir identified as Abdul Aziz Ganaie of Gaddi Duppata Muzaffarabad. The passengers were later shifted into police vehicles.
The Senior Superintendent of Police Varmul, Mansoor Ahmad Untoo, said that all passengers were safe and one of them received a minute injury.
In the morning, a group of protesters targeted police station Varmul. Police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
An army convoy fired several rounds in air in the town when protesters pelted stones at them. Later intermittent clashes continued at Tehsil Road and the main chowk of the town in which one person received a rubber bullet in his foot. He was rushed to district hospital and was discharged later after treatment.
Some people enforced a bandh in the town when shopkeepers started to open their business establishments around noon.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST