Govt’s move to re-open higher secondary schools proves futile, Staff members present in majority of schools, student prefer to stay home, Mob communication, Internet remains snapped, Shops, transport closed
Srinagar, Oct 03 (KNO): The uncertainty that griped entire Kashmir on August 5 after Centre announced the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday completed two months and entered into third month with normal life across the region remaining almost paralysed.
According to wire-service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government’s move to re-open higher secondary schools across Kashmir proved a futile move as almost zero per cent students turned up in their respective schools in the Valley. The announcement to re-open all schools up to higher secondary level in Kashmir was made by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Basser Khan.However, witnesses said that majority of higher secondary schools across Kashmir presented a deserted look.
“In a few main higher secondary schools, staff members were present but no student was present anywhere,” an official source, told KNO.
Meanwhile, Kashmir continued to witness uncertainty that gripped the region on August 5 post abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories (UTs). Public transport that has a fleet of almost 50,000 vehicles including mini-buses and Tata Sumos continue to remain grounded.
Witnesses said that shops, commercial establishments and private institutions remained shut for the 60th day and the uncertainty entered into third month now. Train services that were halted on August 5 remain suspended while as mobile phone connectivity and the internet services also remain shut for the two straight months. There is no official word on the restoration of mobile phone connectivity let alone the internet services.
As per KNO, mobile phone services are working in two police districts of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district—Kupwara and Handwara. According to the officials, there are no restrictions anywhere in Kashmir, however, security deployment has been kept intact to maintain a close watch on the suspects or trouble mongers. Frisking too has been intensified on various highways—Srinagar-Jammu national highway and Srinagar-Baramulla highway while as makeshift bunkers have been set up at various vulnerable points (KNO).
