Srinagar: A partial shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley on Wednesday against the ongoing demolition drive being carried out by the authorities to retrieve state land in the region.
Shops and commercial establishments were shut in old parts of Srinagar and the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and in several parts and towns across the valley as a mark of protest against the drive that many have called a means to disempower the residents.
Some of the shopkeepers later opened their respective shops during the day, however, a majority of them continued to observe the strike. Many of them alleged that they received calls from the authorities to open their shops but could not be verified independently. The locals said that they were observing the strike after Hurriyat Conference called for the Hartal to be observed today. There was, however, no Hurriyat communication that could be verified independently.
“It is not a big matter like Article 370 or statehood. This concerns our own livelihood, home and families so we observed the strike even if they (authorities) threaten us against it,” a shopkeeper from Srinagar’s old city area told NewsClick.
Today’s strike is the first major reaction from locals against the drive which began in January. The political parties, civil society members and trade leaders have vehemently opposed the “anti-encroachment” exercise that they saw as “arbitrary” and “divisive”.
Even as the administration maintains that it will not affect the poor and marginalised but is going after “big sharks” and “land mafia”, many in the region have claimed that the former is also facing evictions.
This story was originally published in newsclick.in . Read the full story here