SRINAGAR/ JAMMU: In the first relaxation of the five-day lockdown that followed the defanging of Article 370 , restrictions were eased on Saturday to facilitate foot and vehicular traffic in parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar , Anantnag and Budgam.

The administration felt that the situation was largely under control. J&K ADG (armed police) S J M Gilani said, “As the situation has shown signs of improvement, we have eased certain restrictions in the Valley today. In Jammu region, by and large the restrictions are over.”

Asked to elaborate on the type of restrictions relaxed, Gilani said vehicular and foot movements were eased while a decision on full restoration of telephone and internet services would be taken at a later stage. The administration said more such steps may be taken “on a case-by-case basis” to allow people to celebrate Eid.

Meanwhile, people stepped out of homes to stock up on essentials, buy clothes and shop for sheep for the festival.

‘There is no reason for the govt to declare victory’

The administration said more such steps may be taken “on a case-by-case basis” to allow people to celeberate Eid-ul-Zuha, the Islamic feast of the sacrifice, as freely as possible on Monday.

In the towns, markets were busy. In the heart of Srinagar city, the rush led to traffic jams in some places, while in Jammu city, bakers, garment shops and places selling sacrificial animals saw a rush of customers.

Despite the increased activity on Srinagar roads, a taxi driver Ghulam Hasan, told TOI that this should not be considered normalcy. “People are angry and upset politically. But it is Eid day after. That is why people are swarming to the markets. There is no reason for the government to declare victory,” he warned.

A political activist from Langate, north Kashmir, Mir Junaid, who was driving around Dal Lake in Srinagar, agreed. “We should not treat this as normalcy even if it is a small step towards normalcy.”

The Srinagar administration also announced payment of salaries in advance to government employees. “Now we have open bakeries and retails shops as well. Internet was a basic requirement for our banks, we restored that as well. Now 350 ATMs are functioning. Every year we provide advance salary. This year we have decided to provide Rs 300 crore as advance salary,” deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary told TOI.

The district authorities of Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi lifted restrictions on Saturday and ordered the reopening of all schools and educational institutions in these places. Restrictions on movement were relaxed for an hour in Doda and Kishtwar districts but remained in force in Poonch, Rajouri and Ramban. Mobile internet remained severed all over Jammu.

Police officials felt encouraged, recalling Eid had not been celebrated after Burhan Wani’s death. “People are no longer willing to be taken for a ride by separatists and mainstream politicians who made their careers on the blood of ordinary Kashmiris ,” a civilian buying vegetables near Hazratbal said.

A day earlier, after Friday prayers, dozens of people had gathered on the streets shouting slogans against India and in favour of Pakistan and the slain leader of the provincial Al Qaida, Ansar Ghawat-ul-Hind founder Zakir Musa.

The J&K police managed the protest demonstration of radical separatists without any casualties. A few youths who were injured in clashes with the forces were rushed to SMHS hospital.

Sources at SMHS told TOI that the injuries were minor and almost all the injured had been discharged.

Hospitals across Srinagar have been functional and well-equipped for the lockdown. In Lal Ded Women’s Hospital, dozens of babies were delivered in the last five days without any complications, the hospital administration told TOI.

Patients at the SMHS OPD praised the hospital administration for the smooth functioning and effective treatment offered by its doctors. “Even in this shutdown, ambulances and medical services have been managed very well,” the attendants of a Kupwara patient told TOI.



In Video: Restrictions have been eased in Valley: Srinagar DC Shahid Chaudhary