J&K Governor defends Art 370 lockdown; state flag removed from secretariat

Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satyapal Malik, justified the lockdown in the erstwhile state following the abrogation of special status. He denied that there was a shortage of essential medicines in the region. He also said that the government's priority was to prevent loss of life, even if it meant shutting down phone services for 10 days. Meanwhile, reports suggested that the state flag atop the civil secretariat in Srinagar had been removed. Only the tricolour could be seen on the building. Before abrogation of special status, both the state flag and the Indian flag used to be hoisted on the building.