Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 25: Normalcy returned to Kashmir valley after week long protests and curfew like restrictions against the death of Udhampur petrol bomb attack victim and due to Muharram.
Restrictions on the movement of people were lifted from the six Police Station areas of Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar and Maisuma after three days.
The shops that remained closed for past one week in parts of Kashmir opened today and transport also plied normally despite rains and cold weather conditions.
The house arrest restrictions on all separatist leaders, except Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been lifted while JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who was lodged at police station Kothibagh for past three days, has been released.
The vendors have set up their stalls at the weekly market or Sunday market here, despite rains.
The restrictions were imposed in the city on Thursday and Friday by the authorities to prevent separatists from holding protests against the death of Zahid Bhat, who succumbed to injuries at a Delhi hospital on October 18.
Protests broke out in Anantnag district of South Kashmir today against the detention of youths during past one week by police. Women joined the sit-in at Mattan Chowk in Old town area of the district.
The public address systems of mosques were used to appeal people to join the protests. Braving rain and cold, protesters assembled at the Chowk and held demonstrations amid anti-police and anti-Government slogans.