Srinagar, July 25: With Hurriyat Conference (G) calling off strike for a day normalcy returned to Kashmir temporarily on Sunday. People withdrew nearly Rs 16 crore from the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across the Valley. 
 Since early morning, a huge rush of people was witnessed in the marketplaces. People thronged banks, grocery stores, ATM kiosks, and filling stations. In summer capital, mainly the commercial hub Lal Chowk, the rush was unprecedented as shops opened after weeks of shutdowns and curfews.
 Officials said that ATMs recorded nearly 50,000 transactions throughout the day. “When Hurriyat had lifted the strike for one day last week people had withdrawn Rs 20 crore from ATMs,” said a J&K Bank official.
 Despite being Sunday, most banks and private schools and colleges remained open for the day.
 The huge rush of shoppers coupled with the rush of roadside Sunday market vendors resulted in the massive traffic snarls during the day. Massive traffic jams were also witnessed on Residency road, M A Road and Batamloo.
 The public transport services also resumed in the city routes and to the other districts and towns from here.
 With the Hurriyat calling for more strikes and protests during the week, people, took opportunity of the relaxation. Grocery stores witnessed a huge rush.   
 Barring Sopur town, north Kashmir towns and districts of Varmul, Kupwara, Handwara, and Bandipore were abuzz with life. People thronged grocery stores to stock-up essentials for the coming days.
 However, Sopur town observed a complete shutdown.
 Life also returned to normal in Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Pampore, Kulgam, and Islamabad during the day.
 A huge rush of people was witnessed in the marketplaces, mainly in the towns.
 However, in Islamabad, a shutdown was observed after 4pm  after announcements were made from the Masjid loud speakers about shutdown.
 Young boys poured out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations at Lal Chowk, Reshi Bazaar, Chini Chowk, Malakhnag and Dangerpora.
 Police cane charged protesters and lobbed tear smoke ammunition to disperse them.
 Seven persons, including five policemen were injured in clashes at Dangerpora.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST