Article 35A row: Shutdown in Kashmir, parts of Jammu

Normal life came to a standstill in the Valley with all business establishments remaining shut and people staying indoors. Schools were shut and attendance in government offices and banks remained thin.

kashmir shutdown, supreme court kashmir, article 35a, article 35a hearing, kashmir supreme court hearing, indian express

The separatists have also called for a complete shutdown on August 31, when the matter comes up for hearing in court. (Photo: Shuaib Masoodi)

Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu region observed a complete shutdown on Thursday to protest against any tampering with the special constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a day before Supreme Court hears a petition against Article 35A. The Joint Resistance Leadership, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, gave the call for a complete shutdown to protest against a bunch of petitions seeking to scrap Article 35A. The separatists have also called for a complete shutdown on August 31, when the matter comes up for hearing in court.

The separatists claimed it is an attempt to change the demography of the state. Normal life came to a standstill in the Valley with all business establishments remaining shut and people staying indoors. Schools were shut and attendance in government offices and banks remained thin. Public and private transport stayed off the roads.

Several parts of the Jammu region also observed a shutdown, including in Rajouri and Poonch in Pir Panjal of Jammu region. Reports of a shutdown were also received from Chenab region of Jammu, including Doda and Kishtwar. The state government has deployed large contingents of police and paramilitary forces across the Valley to prevent any protests and curbs have been imposed on civilian movement in several parts of Kashmir. Trade bodies have called for daily protests across the Valley and people marched towards Lal Chowk for a sit-in protest on Thursday despite the heavy security deployment.

Separatist leaders were also put under house arrest. “Despite curbs, curfews, house arrests complete strike across J&K as people express their strong resentment & protest against the nefarious design of tinkering with state subject laws. No amount of coercion will deter people from fighting this assault with all our might & conviction!” Mirwaiz tweeted.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...