Shutdown off after 8 days, protests on

Kashmir returned to normal on Tuesday after eight days. But Shopian town, the main trouble spot, stayed shut for the ninth day. Across Kashmir, commercial activities resumed after Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is in police custody, called for an end to the eight-day strike.

Kashmir returned to normal on Tuesday after eight days. But Shopian town, the main trouble spot, stayed shut for the ninth day.

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Male students across the Valley held demonstrations. Police resorted to teargas and fired in the air to break a protest at Phulwara, near Shopian.

Across Kashmir, commercial activities resumed after Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is in police custody, called for an end to the eight-day strike.

There was a huge rush at shops and markets, and outside banks and ATMs, leading to traffic snarls.

“I was cashless for five days. Banks were closed, ATMs weren’t working,” said Mohammad Ishaq in Srinagar. “We had a really difficult time.”

Phulwara, though, bucked the trend. “We are protesting the human rights abuses committed by security forces against women,” Arshad, 16, said.

Police sources said 20 students were injured in police action. Authorities also used force to break a demonstration at Dawood Bridge in Srinagar. Three students were injured in that clash, while nine others were injured in clashes at Anantnag and Kakapora, both within 50 km south of Srinagar.