Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: Curfew was relaxed for five hours in Bhaderwah town of Doda district while full day relaxation continued in restrictions in Kishtwar for second consecutive day today as situation remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.
Curfew was relaxed in Bhaderwah town from 9 am to 12 noon initially. However, as the relaxation period passed off peacefully, it was again relaxed from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Entire relaxation period of five hours passed off peacefully in Bhaderwah town with no untoward incident and protests reported from anywhere. People came out of their houses to purchase essential commodities as shops opened and traffic plied during relaxation in restrictions.
In adjoining Kishtwar district, day curfew was lifted for second consecutive day from 6 am to 7 pm and life returned to normal. Night curfew will remain in force in Kishtwar town and peripheries as a precautionary measures.
However, broadband services and mobile internet remained shut in Doda and Kishtwar districts for eighth consecutive day today.
Curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah and Kishtwar last Thursday night after inflammatory speech from a religious place and Social Media posts in Bhaderwah on the remarks of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.
The curfew had earlier been relaxed for two hours from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm, for the first time in a week in Bhaderwah yesterday.
Authorities appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony and assured them that all restrictions will be lifted soon.
“The curfew was imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident but I am glad residents of this beautiful valley behaved in a mature manner. I hope they will not fell prey to nefarious designs of a handful of miscreants and will maintain age-old communal harmony and mutual brotherhood for their better future,” an official said.
“We have already lifted the restrictions in Doda, Thathri, and Gandoh towns and I assure if people here behave well, the remaining restriction will be eased soon as during this peak season of Tourism, we want to see visitors not the security forces,” he added.
With the news of the relaxation, people in considerable number rushed to the markets in elation in Bhaderwah town.
They demanded complete withdrawal of restrictions from the town and restoration of the broadband and mobile internet services, which remained suspended in the entire Doda and Kishtwar districts for the eighth day.
“We are supplying milk and milk products to the people living in the town but in past seven days, we have not been able to earn a single penny,” Shoukat Ali, a resident of Jai Meadow in the outskirts of Bhaderwah town, said.
He said over 200 nomadic families earn their livelihood supplying milk to the people in the town and they have suffered huge losses since the clampdown.
Manzoor Ahmad, a labourer from Marwah, said he has been unable to earn a living since the curfew began.
Muzamil Yazdan, another civilian, advocated for restoration of internet services for the benefit of the students and job aspirants.
“The NEET examination is scheduled for June 23 and the last date to file an application for the post of Accounts Assistant (Panchayats) is also June 23. We demand for early restoration of at least the fixed line internet services,” he said, urging the Government to facilitate students by opening special counters with internet connections till restoration of the service.
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