Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 16: Panic gripped Pulwama town this evening as militants fired several rounds in air while for the first time since July separatists have issued a statement saying there would be no strike on this weekend.
Meanwhile, militants this evening fired several gun shots in air at Murran Chowk in Pulwama causing panic. Sources said that militants who were on a motor cycle fired several shots in air and then fled away.
And for the first time since July, separatists this evening in a statement issued here said that there would be no strike on Saturday and Sunday. The separatist strike has paralysed life in Kashmir for last 131 days in Kashmir forcing schools, colleges and market places to shutdown.
The strike for Saturday and Sunday has been called off after separatists last week called a meeting of transporters, businessmen and civil society groups who suggested that there should be relaxation from daily strikes.
In the meantime, shutdown for 131 consecutive day paralysed life in Kashmir during which situation largely remained peaceful and a huge number of vehicles and pedestrian hit the roads.
For the first time since July, the Northern Railways conducted dry run of the train from Srinagar to Mazhama today. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla are shut since July and track at several places is damaged. However, the dry run was conducted successfully.
Shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and other offices were closed across the Srinagar and other major towns. However, movement of private vehicles, auto-rickshaws, mini-buses and passenger cabs’ as well pedestrians was witnessed in civil line and uptown areas of the city.
Hundreds of vendors had set up their stalls in Lal Chowk area and large numbers of shoppers were also seen buying winter garments. In Old City, hundreds of security men were deployed in five police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City – MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and Khanyar – since early morning.
In Old City, there was, however, civilian movement without any disruption in all these areas. Private vehicles could also be seen plying in good numbers but the vendors were invisible. Some passenger cabs’ were seen plying from Rainawari and Khanyar areas.
Stone-throwing clashes erupted at Nowhatta and Pandan areas of Old City in the evening. Police resorted to teargas shelling and chased away the youths. There was no injury to any one. The situation in the area later returned to normal.
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