Kashmir Curfew, shutdown continue to cripple life on 50th consecutive day

All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses are closed since July 9 after the death of Burhan Wani

Normal life in Kashmir Valley remained paralysed as curfew and shutdown continued for the 50th consecutive day on Saturday in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last month.

All educational institutions, shops, public transport and other businesses are closed since July 9. Earlier, authorities arrested several top separatist leaders and extended curfew to large parts of the Valley to foil a separatists' march in Srinagar.

The death toll in the valley reached 67 on Friday, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will today meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi where she is expected to discuss the prevailing situation in the state.

This will be the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the valley on 8th of last month following the killing of a terrorist.

The meeting comes days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the state where he assessed the situation and held meetings with about delegations of civil society, political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals to bring normalcy in the valley.

Yesterday, Mufti had strongly defended the action of security forces and claimed that 95 percent of the people were keen on resolving the Kashmir issue politically and through dialogue, and added that only five percent of the people were resorting to agitation.