Bandh called by trade bodies affects life in Kashmir, Banihal

338
Photo for representation only.

Normal life was affected in Kashmir valley and Banihal on Tuesday due to a bandh call issued by various trade bodies against ban on Jama’at-e-Islami and assault on Article 35A.

All shops and other commercial establishments are closed in the business hub of Lal Chowk in summer capital Srinagar. Reports of shutdown were also received from other district headquarters of the valley.

Complete shutdown is being observed in Banihal township and its adjoining markets on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Shutdown is also being observed in Khari-Aarpinchla tehsil.

Various trade organisations had on Monday called for a complete shutdown against “continued attacks” on special status of Jammu and Kashmir, ban on socio-religious organisationJamaat-e-Islami and “arrest spree” across the Valley.

Addressing a press conference, chairman of the Kashmir economic alliance (KEA), Muhammad Yasin Khan said that New Delhi is pushing the people of Kashmir to the wall.

“From the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami to continued and collective attempts being made by the Raj Bhawan and New Delhi to erode the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by tinkering with Articles 370 and 35A, every sinister effort is being made to further the unrest in Kashmir,” he said.