Life returned to normal in Srinagar and other major parts of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday as authorities lifted curfew and separatists exempted the day from the purview of their strike calendar.
Shops and business establishments were open and all modes of transport were playing in almost the entire Valley. Office-goers and students had a tough time on Thursday morning as massive traffic jams were witnessed in the city and the main roads connecting Srinagar with district headquarters.
However, Bandipora town, 50 km from here, in north Kashmir wore a deserted look as a shutdown was observed in protest against the arrest of a shopkeeper by police in connection with a stone-pelting incident, officials said.
Bandipora town had witnessed clashes between stone-pelting protestors and law enforcing agencies on Wednesday, leaving eight people injured, including three policemen.
As the preceding night passed off peacefully, a police spokesman said curfew was lifted from the curfew-bound areas of the Valley.
Authorities had imposed curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley on Wednesday to foil a march by the separatist to the office of the United Nations Military Observors Group (UNMOG) at Sonawar here.
"All types of restrictions were lifted this morning from the whole of Kashmir," the spokesman said. He said the situation across Kashmir at this hour is normal and under control. "There are no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere," the spokesman said.
Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, has exempted two days beginning today from the purview of its strike calendar.
Hurriyat has also exempted November two and four from protests and strikes. Kashmir Valley has been in the grip of protests, strikes, and curfew since June when a 17-year-old boy was killed by a tear smoke shell allegedly fired by police at Rajouri Kadal area of the city.