Vendors and other sections of the trading community are being “guided” on the choice of their work schedule.Over the past week, gunmen have repeatedly appeared in various Valley areas to issue diktats to traders on when to open or close their establishments.Also, for the past couple of weeks, shops and other establishments in several Valley areas, including Srinagar, opened for three to four hours from 6 am “to enable people to buy eatables and other essential commodities”.In one such incident, an electronics store in southern Shopian town owned by one Sajad Ahmed Chirag was torched by a group of youth on Thursday.Local watchers say that with almost Kashmir’s entire mainstream and separatist leaderships incarcerated, the resultant political vacuum was being seized by the hardliners to broaden their reach among the people.”. In nearby Kaccha Dora, two trucks which arrived in the village to transport apples out were also attacked. Earlier, several shops were damaged in Beeru area of central Budgam.
The movement of private cars has also increased lately. This came after posters by an obscure group appeared in the Valley, approving of this. We’ve intensified patrolling of areas and various other measures are being initiated to instil confidence among people,” he said. Many youth owing allegiance to the “freedom” cause have become active. He added: “We’re with the people and they with us. In Srinagar, dozens of private cars were damaged and a car was set ablaze in northwestern Baramulla district in the beginning of the week.