While most of the shops and business establishments remained open in the winter capital on Thursday, public transport also resumed on most of the routes after the authorities relaxed curfew across Jammu district for the second consecutive day.
“Since everything went on peacefully Wednesday and no untoward incident was reported since Sunday, we again ordered relaxation in curfew across the district,” district magistrate Ramesh Kumar told Greater Kashmir.
However, orders under section 144 CrPC, which prohibits assembly of more than four people, remained in force in the entire district as a precautionary measure, he said.
All wine shops and bars would also continue to remain closed.
Relaxation in curfew was initially ordered Thursday from 7 am to 2 pm, but it was subsequently extended to 6 pm and later to 9 pm as the district slowly limped back to normalcy.
In the morning hours, policemen made rounds across the district and announced a relaxation in curfew, urging the public to resume normal activities.
Markets reopened and public transport was back on the roads as people came out of their homes to buy essential commodities. Besides, schools also reopened after a weeklong closure.
Meanwhile, all colleges across the district continued to remain closed for the seventh consecutive day.
“Though schools have been reopened, but colleges and universities would continue to remain shut on Friday as well,” the district magistrate told Greater Kashmir.
Moreover, offices of Jammu University remained open on Thursday, but teaching continued to be suspended.
The teaching would continue to remain suspended on Friday, while all examinations have been postponed.
All under and post-graduate-level examinations, CBCS (minor examinations), course work examinations of MPhil and PhD, which were scheduled to be held on February 22 (Friday), have been postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances”, a JU spokesman Vinay Thusoo said.
However, offices of the University would remain functional as usual on Friday. He said fresh dates of examinations would be notified later.
Also, 2G internet services were restored in the district on late Wednesday night.
On Thursday, people in some areas complained of shortage of vegetables, milk and ration and demanded that ATMs be made operational immediately as they are running out of cash. They also complained about non-availability of public transport on some routes.
Meanwhile, wine shops and bars were asked to remain shut Thursday onwards in Samba district as well.
Samba district magistrate Sushma Chauhan said the ban on wine shops and bars in Jammu district has resulted in “a huge rush and congestion in liquor shops and bars in Samba district”
“There is an apprehension of a breach of peace and tranquility in the district,” reads an order issued by her.
Pertinently, curfew was imposed across the Jammu district on Friday following massive anti-Pakistan protests and sporadic incidents of violence over the militant attack in Lethpora, Pulwama which left over 40 CRPF personnel dead.