Kashmir News LIVE Updates: Days after calling reports on an unrest in Saura region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged that an incident of stone pelting did take place in Saura on 9 August which later sparked unrest in the area. Earlier, a few international media houses — including BBC and The Washington Post — had drawn criticism for reporting about the incident. A home ministry spokesperson had also called the reports about protests as 'fabricated and incorrect'.

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As Jammu and Kashmir saw a peaceful Eid-al-Adha, National Security Advisor Doval spent some time with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police personnel having a festive meal at a "situation cabin". Doval, who has been operating from the office of the state Intelligence Bureau unit, has "ensured synergy among forces", NDTV reported.

A report in the NDTV said that Doval was planning to stay back in the Valley till 15th August passes by in view of the threat of retaliation from Pakistan by means of a terrorist attack. Doval is sending daily reports to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the security situation in the Valley.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said it will approach Twitter to take action against a handle which falsely claimed about fratricide clashes between two security forces operating in the state.

Four Twitter handles were suspended for allegedly spreading anti-India propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir following a request by security agencies, officials said on Monday. Four more accounts are expected to be blocked soon for allegedly being engaged in similar activities, they said.

Army chief Bipin Rawat said, "We will always be with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The bonhomie we had with people in the 70s-80s, we want the same again We have had a close relationship with the people in the past and we have engaged with them without guns. We will once again meet them without guns."

The Supreme Court has refused urgent hearing in PIL over clampdown in Kashmir and asked them to go to the registry. The PIL was filed by Editor of Kashmir Times.

Election Commission has called the first meeting since the abrogation of Article 370, and the government's move to redraw the boudaries of the state. The poll panel will discuss the delimitation on Vidhan Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, News18 reported. Delimitation is the drawing, or rather redrawing of boundaries of an electoral constituency to prevent imbalance of population across districts.

Supreme Court has refused to pass immediate directions on a plea for lifting several restrictions including communication in Jammu and Kashmir. The court said that even the government would want the situation to normalise as soon as possible. The bench said that it will wait for the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and will take up the matter after 2 weeks again.

Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary Rohit Kansal said, "It is our constant endeavour that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facilitated and not obstructed. We will try to give more relaxations after 15 August.

The bench acceded to this request and instead of dismissing the petition it agreed to take a review after two weeks.

Maneka Guruswamy, appearing on behalf of Tehseen Poonawalla, said in court, "If the intention is to make Kashmiris full citizens, then we cannot restrict Kashmiris. There should be accountability.. government can't say that they won't have any accountability."

Dress rehearsals for Independence Day celebrations are underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar at the Sher-i-Kashmir stadium in the city.

Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to unfurl the Tricolour at the Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Independence Day, reports said . The move will come only a few weeks after the Centre scrapped Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary Rohit Kansal on Tuesday said that "due cognisance" had been taken of all the "fake Twitter handles" as the state has been under curfew for around a week. He said, "It is being tackled at the appropriate level legally, procedurally and through appropriate measures."

The report added that the MHA didn't comment on Congress president Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit to the state and said that the decision will be taken by local administration. He was responding to Governor Satya Pal Malik's invite to the valley to observe the ground situation.

Sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday said that communication links in Jammu and Kashmir will be restored in a "phased manner", CNN-News18 reported. The report also said that the relaxation of curfew will be done district by district in the state, which has been in a communication clampdown for around a week.

The Centre has asked Twitter to block at least eight accounts on its website, for allegedly spreading rumours about prevailing situation in Kashmir. The accounts are: @kashmir787 (Voice of Kashmir), @Red4Kashmir (Madiha Shakil Khan), @arsched (Arshad Sharif), @mscully94 (Mary Scully), @sageelaniii (Syed Ali Geelani), @sadaf2k197, @RiazKha61370907, and @RiazKha723. The home secretary made the recommendation.

Reiterating America's decades-old policy to encourage India and Pakistan to resolve differences on Kashmir bilaterally, the top diplomat said, "President Trump has made it very clear that his offer to mediate on Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on both India and Pakistan accepting it. Since India has not accepted the offer of mediation, he has made it clear that this is not on the table anymore, Shringla told Fox News, the favourite news channel of the US president.

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that his offer of mediation on Kashmir is not on the table anymore, India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

According to the Act, "...the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114." While the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have an Assembly, the Union Territory of Ladakh will not have one.

The poll panel is also learnt to have discussed the proposed delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Assembly election is due. EC sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is yet to formally write to the poll panel on the issue of reorganisation of the state and the delimitation exercise as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

Following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories, the Election Commission (EC) held an informal discussions on the latest developments on Tuesday.

Reacting to the scrapping of Article 370, Congress general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "The manner in which it has been done is completely unconstitutional and it's against all the principles of democracy. There are rules to be followed when such things are done, which were not followed."

The remarks come days after Opposition leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sitaram Yechury, and D Raja were stopped from going ahead with their visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

At a press conference, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "Concerns arising about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir are natural. There is a complete blockade from the administration's side. News and communication are not accessible to the people there. That's why there are so many questions being raised. Our advice to the government is to let the Opposition leaders go there."

At the Congress press conference, Anand Sharma said, "The government should take initiative and start a political dialogue in which all the Opposition parties of the country take it into confidence. Let a group go there so that the situation there can be understood. Also, leaders who are held, including former chief ministers, should be freed."

Several users, including Indian journalists Pallavi Ghosh and Swati Chaturvedi, lashed out heavily at Malik for "peddling fake news". Jammu and Kashmir Police "strongly rebutted" Malik's claims and said it has taken up the matter with the Twitter support team. According to unverified reports, the video shared by Malik was taken in 2018 following a shell explosion in Kulgam district.

Former Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik drew flak on Twitter for alleging that there was an "Indian gunship attack" in Kashmir and "dozens of men, women and children" were killed because of it. Sharing a video, he asked US president Donald Trump and human rights organisations to take note of the "attack" and asked India to "stop" the "genocide in Kashmir".

Addressing the media in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Qureshi asked Pakistanis to "wage a new struggle" to get the support of the UNSC members. "You (people) should not in live fool's paradise. Nobody will be standing there (in the UNSC) with garlands in hands...Nobody will be there waiting for you," he said.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has asked his countrymen not to live in a "fool's paradise" as he highlighted that it will not be easy for Islamabad to get the support of the UN Security Council as well as from the Muslims against India's decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

At a press conference, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "Kashmir has always been a secular state. Congress has a clear stand that the view of people of Kashmir should have been taken before taking such a step."

CNN-News18 reported that Pakistan troops have violated the ceasefire in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

ANI reported that an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude on Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir at 4.20 pm on Tuesday.

On the amount of investment expected from businesses, Chaudhary said, "It's not necessary that the investments will be known on the day of the summit; it can be known either before, during or after. No government can give you a figure in advance."

Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary for commerce and industry NK Chaudhary said at a press conference, "Jammu and Kashmir has decided to host an investors summit from 12-14 October. This will be first ever global summit being hosted by the state till date. The inaugural session of the summit will be held in Srinagar on 12 October.

Earlier, a few international media houses — including BBC and The Washington Post — had drawn criticism for reporting about the incident. A home ministry spokesperson had also called the reports about protests as "fabricated and incorrect".

Days after calling reports on an unrest in Saura region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged that an incident of stone pelting did take place in Saura on 9 August which later sparked unrest. "On 09/08, miscreants mingled with people returning home after prayers at a local mosque. They resorted to unprovoked stone pelting against law enforcement forces to cause widespread unrest," said the MHA on Twitter.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh lashed out at Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhary on Tuesday for his tweet asking Punjabis in Indian Army to deny duty in Kashmir. "Stop trying to interfere in India's internal matter. And let me tell you that the Indian Army is a disciplined and nationalist force, unlike your Army," Singh told Chaudhary. "Your provocative statement will not work, nor will the soldiers in our army follow your divisive diktats."

"Rahul Gandhi is politicising the matter by seeking to bring a delegation of Opposition leaders to create further unrest and problems for the commons people. As he has put forth many conditions for visiting Jammu and Kashmir, the governor is referring the case to the local police and administration to examine the request further."

Now, after Rahul accepted Malik's "offer", Malik said in a statement, "Rahul Gandhi was responding to fake news possible spread from across the border about the situation in Kashmir, which is peaceful with negligible incidents. He can check for himself from various Indian channels which have reported the correct position in the Kashmir Valley. He can also check the detailed submissions made by the government in the Supreme Court today (Tuesday).

Governor Satya Pal Malik responded to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's request to let a delegation of Opposition leader visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying that he can check the situation by looking at various channels reporting "the correct position" in the Valley. Rahul had earlier raised concern over the reports about sporadic incidents of violence in Kashmir, to which Malik had hit out, saying that he should come to the ground to check the situation.

At a press conference, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "Kashmir has always been a secular state. Congress has a clear stand that the view of people of Kashmir should have been taken before taking such a step."

CNN-News18 reported that Pakistan troops have violated the ceasefire in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Some of them are being threatened and feel insecure. Their democratic rights to express their views should also be protected...We hope that the Union government will do the needful help to Kashmiri students in distress and provide them adequate protection," he wrote.

Urging Shah to help the students, Raja said students were facing financial and security issues and many of them have been unable to contact their families since the government suspended all communication in the valley. "Some students from Jammu and Kashmir met me recently. It seems that they are unable to contact their parents and relatives in the valley and are worried. Similarly some of them are facing financial difficulties due to curfew and restriction imposed in the Valley.

CPI general-secretary D Raja Tuesday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting the plight of students of Jammu and Kashmir staying away from home.

ANI reported that an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude on Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir at 4.20 pm on Tuesday.

On the amount of investment expected from businesses, Chaudhary said, "It's not necessary that the investments will be known on the day of the summit; it can be known either before, during or after. No government can give you a figure in advance."

Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary for commerce and industry NK Chaudhary said at a press conference, "Jammu and Kashmir has decided to host an investors summit from 12-14 October. This will be first ever global summit being hosted by the state till date. The inaugural session of the summit will be held in Srinagar on 12 October.

"Kashmir will not be a part of India. During the centenary celebrations of India's independence, history is going to be written that Kashmir will not be a part of India; they (BJP-led Central government) have entangled India in quicksand," he said. Vaiko was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu.

Vaiko, known for his abrasive remarks on several issues, made the dramatic assertion while reacting to a question from reporters in Chennai on Monday on actor Rajinikanth lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for junking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Alleging that the Centre had entangled India in "quicksand" by revoking special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said "Kashmir will not be a part" of the country when the centenary of its independence is celebrated.

Divisional Commissioner (JAMMU), Sanjeev Verma: Situation in Jammu has acquired normalcy, in the whole of the Jammu province. In some of the districts, we have maintained prohibited precautions only to maintain a level of regulation. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/MtCWW3Qrdd

Jammu divisional commissioner Sanjeev Verma said that the situation in Jammu has acquired normalcy. "In some of the districts, we have maintained prohibited precautions only to maintain a level of regulation, " he said.

Law enforcement authorities showed restraint and tried to maintain law & order situation. It is reiterated that no bullets have been fired in #JammuAndKashmir since the development related to #Article370 @diprjk @JmuKmrPolice

Earlier, a few international media houses — including BBC and The Washington Post — had drawn criticism for reporting about the incident. A home ministry spokesperson had also called the reports about protests as "fabricated and incorrect".

Days after calling reports on an unrest in Saura region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged that an incident of stone pelting did take place in Saura on 9 August which later sparked unrest. "On 09/08, miscreants mingled with people returning home after prayers at a local mosque. They resorted to unprovoked stone pelting against law enforcement forces to cause widespread unrest," said the MHA on Twitter.

Stop trying to interfere in India's internal matter. And let me tell you that the Indian Army is a disciplined and nationalist force, unlike your Army @fawadchaudhry . Your provocative statement will not work, nor will the Soldiers in our Army follow your divisive diktats. @adgpi https://t.co/DAQfj0yqQ0

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh lashed out at Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhary on Tuesday for his tweet asking Punjabis in Indian Army to deny duty in Kashmir. "Stop trying to interfere in India's internal matter. And let me tell you that the Indian Army is a disciplined and nationalist force, unlike your Army," Singh told Chaudhary. "Your provocative statement will not work, nor will the soldiers in our army follow your divisive diktats."

"Rahul Gandhi is politicising the matter by seeking to bring a delegation of Opposition leaders to create further unrest and problems for the commons people. As he has put forth many conditions for visiting Jammu and Kashmir, the governor is referring the case to the local police and administration to examine the request further."

Now, after Rahul accepted Malik's "offer", Malik said in a statement, "Rahul Gandhi was responding to fake news possible spread from across the border about the situation in Kashmir, which is peaceful with negligible incidents. He can check for himself from various Indian channels which have reported the correct position in the Kashmir Valley. He can also check the detailed submissions made by the government in the Supreme Court today (Tuesday).

Governor Satya Pal Malik responded to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's request to let a delegation of Opposition leader visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying that he can check the situation by looking at various channels reporting "the correct position" in the Valley. Rahul had earlier raised concern over the reports about sporadic incidents of violence in Kashmir, to which Malik had hit out, saying that he should come to the ground to check the situation.

Kashmir News LATEST Updates: Days after calling reports on an unrest in Saura region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged that an incident of stone pelting did take place in Saura on 9 August which later sparked unrest in the area. Earlier, a few international media houses — including BBC and The Washington Post — had drawn criticism for reporting about the incident. A home ministry spokesperson had also called the reports about protests as "fabricated and incorrect".

Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary for commerce and industry NK Chaudhary said at a press conference, "Jammu and Kashmir has decided to host an investors summit from 12-14 October. This will be first ever global summit being hosted by the state till date. The inaugural session of the summit will be held in Srinagar on 12 October.

Poland foreign minister on Tuesday called up Pakistan foreign affairs minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss the Kashmir issue. Polands foreign ministry later tweeted, "As a rotating chair of the UNSC, Poland would closely monitor developments in the region."

Former Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik drew flak on Twitter for alleging that there was an "Indian gunship attack" in Kashmir and "dozens of men, women and children" were killed because of it. Sharing a video, he asked US president Donald Trump and human rights organisations to take note of the "attack" and asked India to "stop" the "genocide in Kashmir". Several users, including Indian journalists Pallavi Ghosh and Swati Chaturvedi, lashed out heavily at Malik for "peddling fake news". Jammu and Kashmir Police "strongly rebutted" Malik's claims and said it has taken up the matter with the Twitter support team.

At the Congress press conference, Anand Sharma said, "The government should take initiative and start a political dialogue in which all the Opposition parties of the country take it into confidence. Let a group go there so that the situation there can be understood. Also, leaders who are held, including former chief ministers, should be freed."

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that his offer of mediation on Kashmir is not on the table anymore, India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

Supreme Court has refused to pass immediate directions on a plea for lifting several restrictions including communication in Jammu and Kashmir. The court said that even the government would want the situation to normalise as soon as possible. The bench said that it will wait for the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and will take up the matter after 2 weeks again.

"Dear Governor Malik, A delegation of opposition leaders & I will take you up on your gracious invitation to visit Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. We won’t need an aircraft but please ensure us the freedom to travel & meet the people, mainstream leaders and our soldiers stationed over there," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Election Commission has called the first meeting since the abrogation of Article 370, and the government's move to redraw the boundaries of the state. The poll panel will discuss the delimitation on Vidhan Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, News18 reported. Delimitation is the drawing, or rather redrawing of boundaries of an electoral constituency to prevent unbalance of population across districts.

The Supreme Court has refused urgent hearing in PIL over clampdown in Kashmir and asked them to go to the registry. The PIL was filed by Editor of Kashmir Times.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a plea challenging the Centre's decision to impose restrictions and "other regressive measures" in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the provisions of Article 370.

Four Twitter handles were suspended for allegedly spreading anti-India propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir following a request by security agencies, officials said on Monday. Four more accounts are expected to be blocked soon for allegedly being engaged in similar activities, they said.

Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh toured the Kashmir Valley on Monday to review the prevailing security situation in the region. Singh visited formations in north and south Kashmir and was briefed about the current situation as also the recent counter-terrorist operations, a Defence spokesperson said.

The Centre has asked Twitter to block at least eight accounts on its website, for allegedly spreading rumours about prevailing situation in Kashmir. The accounts are: @kashmir787 (Voice of Kashmir), @Red4Kashmir (Madiha Shakil Khan), @arsched (Arshad Sharif), @mscully94 (Mary Scully), @sageelaniii (Syed Ali Geelani), @sadaf2k197, @RiazKha61370907, and @RiazKha723. The home secretary made the recommendation. Arshad Sharif is a journalist with ARY News, while Mary Scully is with Pakistan Today.

The Kashmir Police took has taken up a tweet, on the situation in Kashmir by Pakistani journalist Wajahat Saeed Khan, with the Twitter Support team. Khan's tweet alleged that a Kashmiri policeman killed five CRPF personnel "after they refused to let a pregnant woman" travel "because she didn't have a curfew pass". The Kashmir Police called the tweet "malicious" and said that it "strongly rebutted" it.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday activist Tehseen Poonawalla's plea challenging the Centre's decision to impose restrictions and "other regressive measures" in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the provisions of Article 370.



Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. "Not a single bullet fired in Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi is lying on the situation" he told a news channel. his remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi demanded that the Central government make the details of the situation known to the public since there were reports of violence in the region.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority​ (PEMRA) “requested” media not to air special programmes on Eid, and on 15 August, to “project two nation theory, Indian atrocities against Muslims and minorities in India and Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.

Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement president Shah Faesal drew flak on Twitter for saying that every Kashmiri was in mourning after the abrogation of Article 370. "There is no Eid. Kashmiris across the world are mourning the illegal annexation of their land. There shall be no Eid till everything that has been stolen and snatched since 1947 is returned back. No Eid till the last bit of insult is avenged and undone,” his tweet read.

People gathered in mosques across Pakistan on Monday to offer special prayers for Eid al-Adha, the second of Islam’s two major religious festivals. The government has called for the festival to be observed in a ‘simple manner’ this year, to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

After India’s decision to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Pakistan expelled India’s ambassador and suspended trade in anger at New Delhi’s latest move. On Monday, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi travelled to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, to offer Eid prayers at a mosque there.

India on Monday told China that it is important to ensure that any bilateral differences should not become disputes, as Beijing said it is "very closely" following the Indo-Pak tensions over Kashmir and its "ramifications" and asked New Delhi to play a "constructive role" for regional peace and stability. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a crucial three-day visit to China, called on Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, considered a confidant of President Xi Jinping, and later had a restricted delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Welcoming Jaishankar, foreign minister Wang referred to the Indo-Pak tensions without directly mentioning about India scrapping the Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. "On the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, we can have mutually beneficial cooperation. This is in the fundamental interest and long term interest of our two peoples and also contribute to world peace and human progress," Wang said.

"At the same time, China and India as two big nations, also have important responsibilities for upholding the regional peace and stability," he said. "When it comes to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan and the possible ramifications, we follow these developments very closely. We hope that India would also play a constructive role for the regional peace and stability," Wang said.

Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani during the Annual General Meeting said, "Responding to the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we stand committed to the needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. You will see several announcements for the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the coming days."

There was no exchange of sweets between the Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers along the International Border (IB) on the occasion of Eid this year, reports said. Addressing a press briefing on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Principal Secretary (Planning Commission), Rohit Kansal said, "Over 5,000 devotees offered prayers at the Eidgah in Jammu. We've reports of the successful conclusion of Eid prayers from the Kashmir Valley in Baramulla, Ramban, Anantnag, Shopian, Awantipora, Srinagar and other places."

Spokesperson for Ministry of Home Affairs said, "Eid prayers offered peacefully in all local mosques of Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore, without any untoward incident. Jamia masjid old town Baramulla witnessed approx 10,000 people offering prayers." All health institutions at primary, secondary and tertiary level in Kashmir division are functioning with a sufficient number of doctors and para-medical staff on duty, officials have said.

Curfew was re-imposed in Srinagar on the eve of Eid-al-Adha, even as state police stressed the situation was peaceful in Jammu and Kashmir that has been in lockdown since the Narendra Modi government decided to repeal Article 370, which granted special status to the state. Eid, the biggest festival for the Valley, is a quiet affair this time, with markets in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remaining shut, reports claimed.

Ahead of Eid-ul Azha, banks, ATMs and quite a few markets remained open on Sunday in Kashmir and restrictions were eased allowing people to come out to shop, while residents would be permitted to offer prayers in neighbourhoods mosques on the festival, officials said.

There has been no report of violence anywhere in Kashmir, they said.

While the administration said it was taking steps to facilitate availability of food and other items, the usual hustle and bustle of the Eid-ul-Azha festival was missing in the Valley where normal life has been paralysed following heavy security deployment, restrictions on movement and curtailing of communication links after the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5.

However, normalcy was fast returning in most of the Jammu region where restrictions under section 144 CrPc have been completely lifted in five districts. In the other five districts, restrictions have been relaxed to facilitate Eid preparations, officials said.

"Everything is peaceful. The restriction have eased and there has been lot of improvement in public and transport movement," Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

Magistrates have been deployed at every critical place to act as facilitators for the convenience of the general public, an official spokesperson said.

A top government official said people will be allowed to visit neighbourhood mosques to offer prayers during the Eid-ul-Azha on Monday.

The administration has issued an advisory saying that 300 special telephone booths are being established to help people communicate with their kin. Telephone and internet links in the Valley have been snapped since 5 August. Meanwhile, National Conference leader and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, who was arrested a few days ago, was on Sunday shifted to a jail in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, the first mainstream political leader being sent out of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

So far 46 people have been shifted from J-K to jails in Uttar Pradesh in recent days.

District Magistrates have made elaborate arrangements for the Eid-ul-Azha, an official spokesman said, adding treasuries, banks and ATMs have been made functional even on holiday in the run-up to the festival

Six 'mandies' and markets have been established in Srinagar city while 2.5 lakh sheep have been made available for public for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha on Monday. The authorities have also deployed mobile vans for door to door delivery of vegetables, LPG cylinders, poultry and eggs, officials said.

The district administrations are constantly reviewing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and they will facilitate people to offer prayers in mosques during Eid, a top official told PTI, requesting anonymity.

Last Friday, people were allowed to visit neighbourhood mosques and offer prayers there. However, large gatherings were not allowed in any part of the Valley.

Asked about the restrictions imposed on communication links, the official said these were "temporary" measures taken to maintain peace and prevent circulation of misinformation and rumours.

"The government is conscious of the ground situation and doing utmost so that there is minimum inconvenience to the people. Everyday something or the other restrictions are relaxed. We will take decisions on lifting restrictions on phones as early as possible," he said.

The official said all decisions are not taken by the central government and local administrations are taking a call wherever necessary, particularly in regard to law and order.

"We have received and made 4,600 calls during last three days," another official said, adding they have "reached out to 150 houses to help them connect to their kin".

The replenishment of cash in ATMs has been ensured on regular basis and people are drawing money from ATMs as and when required, said officials, adding salaries of all employees and wages of casual labourers too have been released in advance.

Ration 'ghats' in every district have started functioning to supply groceries to people. Out of 3,697 ration 'ghats' in Kashmir division, 3,557 ration 'ghats' have been made operational to provide essentials to the general public.

Traders, however, said they were suffering losses due to less business this Eid.

Bashir Ahmed, a livestock dealer, hailing from Poonch, had come to Kashmir with his herd of goats and sheep in the hope of making some profit through sale of sacrificial animals on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, but he said he might have to take most of them back with him.

"Last year around this time, I had sold off all my herd and was headed home to celebrate Eid with my family. This year I have sold only 15 of the 200-odd goats I had brought along," Ahmad said.

With curbs on the movement of people, the livestock dealer is also finding it very difficult to find food for his herd. "As the restrictions were eased on Saturday, we were hopeful that sales might pick up on Sunday and Monday," he said, adding he would make his way towards Poonch on Monday morning with whatever livestock is left with him.

Mohammed Yasin, a readymade garments dealer in Lal Chowk, walked three days in a row from his Hazratbal home to his shop in hopes of selling some of the stocks he had purchased for Eid.

Authorities said elaborate arrangements have been made for the safe and hassle-free returns of Hajis from Saudi Arabia, for which flights will commence on August 18. All deputy commissioners have nominated their nodal officers who will be stationed at the airport from August 18 to facilitate the return of 'hajis' to their native places in the city and elsewhere in the Valley.

Special help-line desks will be established at the airport and Hajj houses for the convenience of 'hajis'.

The government has also stocked sufficient amount of various essential items. Wheat has been stocked to suffice for 65 days, rice for 55 days, mutton for 17 days, poultry for one month, kerosene for 35 days, LPG for one month, and diesel and petrol for 28 days.

All bakery, poultry and mutton shops were kept open on Sunday and long queues were seen outside these shops, another official said, adding traffic is plying smoothly in Srinagar city.

All health institutions at primary, secondary and tertiary level in Kashmir division are functioning fully with sufficient number of doctors and para-medical staff on duty. Identity cards of medical staffers are being treated as movement passes, said officials, adding all medicines are also available in sufficient quantity in all health institutions.

Flights are operating as per the schedule and air tickets too are being treated as movement passes, they added.

Various municipal corporations and other civic bodies in the valley too have taken additional steps to ensure complete cleanliness and sanitation in their respective areas.

To ensure round the clock power supply and its immediate restoration following faults and breakdowns, sufficient staffers have been deployed in various power utilities, officials said, adding adequate transmission cables and transformers are there in the stock to meet any contingency.

Similar arrangements have been made to ensure round the clock water supply with deployment of sufficient staffers at pumping stations and water plants.

The government has also deployed liaison officers in various places in the country, including Aligarh and New Delhi, to help students hailing from Kashmir and pursuing their studies outside the Valley, to celebrate Eid and communicate to their family members in the Valley.

District Magistrate Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana, eased the curfew in Kishtwar from 8:00 am but night curfew will remain from 9 pm to 4 am.

Officials said several shops and business establishments remained open in the district and people in large numbers thronged the markets to buy essentials commodities in a peaceful environment ahead of Eid -Festival.

Director General of Police J&K (DGP) Dilbagh Singh visited Kishtwar and reviewed the overall law and order situation.