People throng weekly flea market in Srinagar

The weekly flea market here witnessed a large rush of people and few shops at some places in the city stretched their business hours on Sunday, even as the uncertainty in Kashmir, following abrogation of Article 370, continued for 118th day.

The weekly flea market, locally known as Sunday market, was open as vendors put up stalls on the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis through Lal Chowk city centre, the officials said.

   

They said thousands of people thronged the market for shoppingclothes and other items.

Shops and other business establishmentsopened Sunday morning but most of them downed their shutters around the noon,few including in the areas around the commercial hub of LalChowk – stretchedtheir business hours till late in the afternoon, the officials said.

The shops in Downtown area of Srinagar remained open till noon,they added.

The markets in Kashmir have been following new business hours byopening early in the morning and closing around the noon in most areas.

However, in some areas, most of the shops do not open in themorning and do business only in the evening. Most modes of public transportwere plying on Sunday, the officials added.

Pre-paid mobile phones and all internet services continued toremain suspended since August 5 when the Centre announced the decision toabrogate Article 370 of the Constitution and to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmirinto two Union Territories.

Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians havebeen taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders including twoformer Chief Ministers – Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti – have been eitherdetained or placed under house arrest.

The government hasdetained former Chief Minister and sitting MP from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullahunder the controversial Public Safety Act.

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