Srinagar, June 30: Life returned to normal in Kashmir valley on Saturday after five days of complete shutdown and curfew in old Srinagar following the gutting of the shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar here.
 Shops, other businesses, educational institutions and public transport started normally in the morning as authorities lifted curfew from six police stations of Srinagar.
 The roads and markets of Srinagar and other parts of the Valley bustled with activity today as private and public transport plied after five days.
 Usual scenes of traffic jams were witnessed in the city as roads were again flooded with vehicles. The streets of Srinagar witnessed heavy tourist rush and shopkeepers were seen busy.
 In old city, police and CRPF personnel were seen deployed to thwart any protest demonstration.
 “I have run out of rice during the days of curfew imposed by government, so today I went to market and purchased it. Because you don’t know what will happen in future, so it is better to be safe and stock items,” Muhammad Ramzan, a resident of Nowhatta said.
 Huge rush of consumers was witnessed outside ration depots of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department in various areas of the Valley with people waiting in long queues to purchase ration.
 Even LPG cylinders were in demand, with people eagerly waiting for the truckload of gas cylinders at different points earmarked by gas companies.
 People were also seen thronging the ATMs to withdraw money. Long queues of customers were witnessed at ATMs of JK Bank on old Srinagar.
 “I am waiting for my turn for past half an hour. Due to strikes and curfew for five days people have run short of money and they now want to withdraw money from the bank accounts. You never know what will happen in Kashmir where situation turns from normal to violent in no time,” Adnan Javid, a JK Bank customer at Khanyar.
 An official of JK Bank told Greater Kashmir that more than 20 crore rupees were disbursed from the different ATM booths of the bank with more than 71000 hits by the customers.
 Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation has expressed satisfaction with the return of normalcy and resuming of business activities.
 “Today, overall business was good; people were seen in large number purchasing mostly essential items. As they have some apprehensions, people were seen purchasing essential items like rice, flour, sugar and other items which are used in day to day life,” Bashir Ahmad, General Secretary, KTMF said.
 Ahmad said they have told members of KTMF to keep their shops and business establishments open on Sunday. “Due to strikes and undeclared curfews, business community has suffered heavy losses and also people have run out of essential commodities. So keeping in mind the situation, KTMF has decided to keep the business establishments open which otherwise remain closed on Sundays,” he said.
 After the gutting of the shrine, separatist groups called for a one-day strike to mourn the destruction. The authorities had imposed indefinite curfew in old Srinagar under jurisdictions of police stations Safakadal, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar and Kralkhud.
 Jammu and Kashmir's Grand Mufti Muhammad Bashir-ud-Din called for a two-day strike on Thursday.
 Police records maintain that over 60 persons, including 17 cops were injured in the clashes during last five days in different parts of the Valley.
 Hundreds of police and CRPF personnel were deployed in strength to strictly implement the curfew in old Srinagar. Additional security and police personnel were deployed elsewhere in Srinagar and other parts of Valley to thwart any protests.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST