In the first sign of normalcy returning to Kashmir after four months, passenger vehicles plied in Srinagar today. The Class 12 Board examinations started yesterday while the Class 10 Board examinations commenced today and both of them have been peaceful.

The Valley had witnessed unrest ever since Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. Since then, stone-pelting had become order of the day. Several schools were also mysteriously burnt down.

However, several passenger vehicles, including buses, started plying on Srinagar roads today. Officials said this is for the first time in more than four months that buses were seen on the roads.

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INCREASED MOVEMENT OF TRANSPORT AND PEOPLE



They said apart from the buses, there was an increase in number of cabs and auto-rickshaws plying in the city. The increased movement of transport and people gave a semblance of normalcy in the city, with the authorities deploying more traffic police personnel to man the roads in the city which witnessed traffic snarls at a few places, they said.

Similar reports of increased movement of people and transport were received from other district headquarters of the Valley, the officials said, adding inter-district transport has also significantly improved. However, some other facets of life remained affected in the Valley for the 129th consecutive day due to the separatist sponsored strike.

Shops were open in several areas in the civil lines and outskirts of the city as well as in few of the rural areas in other districts of Kashmir. But many remained shut due to the strike. Many vendors had put up their stalls along TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis through Lal Chowk city centre, while banks were also open across the Valley and witnessed rush of customers.

As many as 85 people, including two police men, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the ongoing unrest in the Valley. Around 5,000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes.

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