Increased movement of people, traffic in Srinagar

There was a semblance of normalcy in Srinagar as increased movement of people and traffic was witnessed in the city today, but life elsewhere in Kashmir Valley remained affected due to a separatist-sponsored strike.
As more people defied the separatist diktats by coming out to carry out their day to day activities, a large number of taxis, auto-rickshaws and private cars were seen plying in the city especially in the areas in the civil lines and the outskirts, including in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, officials said.
Inter-district cabs also plied on the routes connecting many district headquarters with the summer capital here.

Some shops were also open in these areas, while there was huge rush of customers at banks, the officials said.
They said there were no curbs on the movement of people anywhere in Kashmir, but adequate deployment of security forces has been made on some vulnerable points to maintain law and order as well as to instill a sense of security among the people to carry out their day to day activities.
However, most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut elsewhere in the Valley due to the separatist-sponsored strike.

The unrest in Kashmir, triggered by killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8, has stretched to four months.

The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, have been issuing weekly protest programmes.
As many as 85 people, including two police personnel, 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.