Srinagar: For the third consecutive day, normal life activities continued uninterrupted across Kashmir today. This happened for the first time since the unrest began over five months ago.The full-day relaxation for the third consecutive day in the separatists’ “protest calendar” this week was given in view of the Eid-e-Milad celebrations in the Valley. Two-day relaxation was given in the last two weeks to enable the people to make purchases of essentials and other merchandise ahead of the winter months. Separatists—Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik— have been jointly issuing the weekly “protest calendars” following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district on July 8.With the devotees thronging revered shrines and mosques for the night-long prayers and joining the daily prayers, particularly at the Hazratbal shrine, there was a festive atmosphere leading to a hustle and bustle in the market places. Large numbers of people were also seen shopping in the market places giving a semblance of normalcy in the backdrop of the unrest. There was a heavy rush of pedestrians and vehicular movement in the city markets and other major towns of the Valley. This led to traffic congestions giving tough time to traffic cops in managing the traffic.After the three-day relaxation, the separatists have called for a shutdown tomorrow, followed by 16-hour relaxation from 4 pm each on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Three-day ‘relaxation’ brings Valley to life
