Kashmir valley markets down shutters to protest demolition drive

No formal shutdown call issued by Hurriyat, but sources say posters were circulated by Hurriyat supporters; police allegedly threatened action against Srinagar shopkeepers who closed shop

All Alliance Democratic Party workers stage a protest against the administration over demolition and encroachment drive by authorities in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Feb 9. | Photo Credit: ANI

Most commercial hubs in the Kashmir valley observed a shutdown on Wednesday, even as the Union Home Ministry has reportedly issued directions to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to follow legal procedures during the ongoing “anti-encroachment drive” in the Union Territory (UT).

Markets, shopping plazas and commercial complexes remained closed since morning in parts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore and Anantnag districts. 

There was no formal shutdown call issued by the Hurriyat. However, official sources suggested that posters calling for a shutdown against the L-G administration’s demolition drive were circulated in parts of the Valley by the Hurriyat’s supporters. The police have neither denied nor confirmed these reports.

‘Expressing anger’

“We observed a shutdown to express our anger against the ill-intentioned drive against locals, whose land as well as livelihood is being taken away in the name of drive against ‘State’ land,” a shopkeeper from Lal Chowk said, on the condition of anonymity.

Some shopkeepers in Lal Chowk alleged that the police called and warned that action would be taken against them in case they failed to open their shops. Several cart-pullers in the old city’s Nowhatta area accused the police of issuing threats against them for observing any shutdown.

In spite of the police intervention, markets in Maisuma, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Hawal and other parts of Srinagar remained closed. The strike call, however, did not impact the movement of traffic or functioning of government offices in the Valley.

The drive against encroachments was started in January this year on the instructions of J&K L-G Manoj Sinha. One official estimate suggested that 38,645 kanals of ‘State land’ has been retrieved from Kishtwar, 40,000 kanals from Anantnag, 12,751 kanals from Kathua, 13,431 kanals from Ganderbal, 4,021 kanals from Kupwara, 28,000 kanals from Bandipora and 2,145 kanals from Baramulla in J&K so far.

‘No demolition of homes’

“We are following the directions of the L-G. It is clear that the administration will not touch the poor and landless people,” Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Aijaz Asad said.

Days after the Srinagar Municipal Corporation issued eviction notices to locals living on the city’s water spill channel, the Doodhganga, Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has assured them that no demolition of homes would take place during the drive.

“No colonies will be displaced nor any houses demolished including the downtrodden colonies and slum settlements on this stretch. The ‘Public Notice’ that has been issued concerns encumbrances, obstacles and physical encroachments within and on top of the canal, and does not pertain to residential colonies, houses or structures,” Mr. Mattu said.