SRINAGAR: Normal life resumed across Kashmir Monday on the second day of the five-day relaxation period, the longest called by the unified leadership since the current uprising began in the Valley.
The leadership, comprising of two Hurriyat factions and JKLF, announced a new protest calendar for the next two weeks till the end of this month.
The unified Hurriyat has asked people to strike only on Fridays and Saturdays, meaning the Valley would witness five days of normal business every week now, first time since unrest erupted in July this year.
All shops and business establishments opened early in the morning, while traffic was plying normally on all the roads in Srinagar, other major towns and on the inter-district routes.
The Valley erupted in rage on July 8, hours after news spread that government forces had killed Burhan Wani, a popular militant commander in south Kashmir. Subsequent protests and police action left some 100 people dead and thousands others injured.
Even chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, acknowledged that unwarranted force was used on protesters during the last five months. “During the past five months, excessive force was used and I don’t deny that, but normalcy has started prevailing. I hope police will cooperate and change their behavior while dealing with people,” Mufti had said, speaking at the passing-out parade of Jammu and Kashmir Police at Commando Training Centre in Lethpora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.