The famous “Sunday Market” in the summer capital, Srinagar was open today while shops and business establishments remained closed in the civil lines and downtown Srinagar.

However, barring parts of south, life is limping back to normal in Kashmir valley, where people are protesting against scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, besides downgrading the state and dividing it into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5.

There was no relief for the leaders of all mainstream andseparatist organizations, including three former Chief Minsiters—Dr FarooqAbdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti—who are under detention inthe valley, where internet and pre-paid mobile services remained suspended inthe valley since August 5.

Additional Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF), rushed fromdifferent parts of the country days before the special status of the state waswithdrawn, remained deployed in the valley, including Srinagar to maintain lawand order.

There was no change in the situation in and around thehistoric Jamia Masjid, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairmanMirwaiz Moulvi Omar Frooq, who is currently under house arrest since August 4.All gates of historic Jamia masjid remained closed since August 5. Jamia marketand shops and business establishments in other parts of the down town andShehar-e-Khas (SeK) remained closed. Additional security forces remaineddeployed outside the masjid and a bullet proof vehicle was parked outside themain gate.

Sunday Market spread over about three km in the civil lineswas open and a large number of vendors have put up their stalls.

Business and other activities remained suspended on Sundayin the summer capital, Srinagar, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centreof the city. Shops and business establishments remained closed in main businesshubs of civil lines, Batmaloo and down town. However, shops, particularlyselling vegetables, fruits and other essentials were seen functioning in theuptown and outskirts of the city. For the past more than a month, shops andbusiness establishments were functioning for few hours in the morning and laterin the evening in the city and outskirts. Many public transport vehicles,including three wheelers and cabs, were also plying in the city and on districtroutes.

A report from Anantnag said that partial strike was observedon Sunday in this and Kulgam while life remained affected in Shopian andPulwama districts in south Kashmir, a report received here said.

Majority shops and business establishments were functioningin Anantnag and Kulgam districts, where a number of cabs and other publictransport vehicles were plying.

However, situation in Shopian and Pulwama was different asmajority shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was offthe roads. However, some cabs and three wheelers besides private vehicles wereplying.

Life was near normal in this and other north Kashmir towns,a report from Baramulla said. Majority shops and business establishments werefunctioning and transport was also plying.

Shops and business establishments were functioning partiallyin central Kashmir district of Budgam, where some public transport vehicleswere also plying.