Srinagar, July 11: Even as people face shortage of essentials following prolonged curfew in the Valley, the Shahr-e-Khaas continued to be under siege Sunday while the authorities claimed to have lifted the curfew elsewhere.
 The residents of the old City woke to find their localities dotted by heavy deployment of police and paramilitary CRPF for another day Sunday while some relaxation was given Saturday.
 Pertinently, for the past many days the people of the old City have been facing acute shortage of food stuff and essential commodities.
  “We are really facing a tough time as major junk of our food stocks like rice and flour have exhausted and we are unable to purchase them due to the siege and uncertainty,” Muhammad Sultan of Zaina Kadal told Greater Kashmir over phone.
 Many people hailing from other Shahr-e-Khaas areas like Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Zaina Kadal, Gojwara, Habba Kadal, Fateh Kadal and Maisuma said they were facing shortage of milk, bread and vegetables.
 “Policemen and troopers are not allowing any vendor to enter into the area,” said Zahoor Ahmad of Fateh Kadal.
 The Srinagarites also expressed concern over shortage of medicines.
 “My mother is suffering from diabetes and it is necessary for her to take certain medicines and insulin injections daily. But she hasn’t taken any dose for past many days,” said Altaf of Maisuma area adding he couldn’t go out to buy the lot as the area is under siege.
 Showkat Ahmed of Eidgah said even though the nearby locality grows vegetables but the vendors weren’t allowed to sell the same.
 He and other residents accused the paramilitary CRPF of not allowing the hawkers to sell vegetables in the area.
 “The ration ghat also remained closed,” they said.
 Meanwhile, people in many areas continued to collect rice and money to help the brethren in need.
 In the past days of curfew, the locals of Aloocha Bagh raised community kitchen where prepared Tehri (Haldi rice) for the attendants of the hospitalized patients at the Lal Ded hospital in the adjoining locality.
 “Attendants from far off areas weren’t able to get food from outside. So we volunteered to prepare Tehri for them,” said some local youth who volunteered preparing the Tehri.
 Meanwhile, an official with the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution acknowledged that the department was facing problem in keeping the Ration Ghats open in some Shahhr-e-Khaas areas due to “unprecedented situation.”
 “We have been supplying the rations stocks at most of the places even on Sunday but some pockets in Shahr-e-Khaas could be facing problem,” he said requesting not to be named.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST