On a day when Srinagar resident Ghulam Ahmad Langoo would have welcomed guests to his daughter’s wedding, he was busy ensuring that press releases informing people that the function was cancelled were displayed by local news channels and newspapers.
“We had made all preparations. Chefs and shamiana (tent) were booked. But we fear guests may not be able to reach the venue due to strict curfew and stone pelting,” Langoo said.
Langoo is among hundreds of parents in the Kashmir Valley who chose to cancel wedding functions due to the spontaneous shutdown and strict imposition of ‘undeclared curfew’ by the authorities following protests against the death of 17-year-old Tufail Ahmad Mattoo allegedly in police action in the city on Friday.
Local news channels and newspapers are being flooded with press releases cancelling wedding parties.
The police have received dozens of calls from frantic parents seeking security cover for the grooms’ motorcades. “Dozens of marriages were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Srinagar. On Sunday we did relax the situation and allowed motorcades of grooms to pass,” said Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police Reyaz Bedar.
The unrest has also affected exams and interviews. Kashmir University and Islamic University for Science and Technology have cancelled interviews and examinations till June 15.
{{/usCountry}}The unrest has also affected exams and interviews. Kashmir University and Islamic University for Science and Technology have cancelled interviews and examinations till June 15.
{{/usCountry}}The state education board also postponed Class X exams from Monday to June 25.
For fourth day on Monday, the police and CRPF blocked lanes and bylanes of nine volatile areas with barbed wire and deployed personnel in large numbers to contain the anger over Mattoo’s death.