17 August : The situation in bandh-hit Kashmir Valley on Sunday remained peaceful even as Governor N N Vohra reviewed the developments in the state and the movement of essential commodities by road.
"There is no report of any untoward incident from any part of the Valley" on Sunday morning, official sources said.Shops and business markets remained closed and public and private transport largely remained off the roads in Srinagar and other major towns in the Valley.
Petty shops in the certain areas Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley reopened in the morning to enable people to buy essentials but shopkeepers had to pull down their shutters as groups of youth asked them to observe the strike.
The coordination committee of Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups and traders’ bodies are scheduled to meet during the day to decide whether to continue with the strike called to protest the killing of 22 persons in the Valley and ‘high-handedness’ of security forces in dealing with Amarnath land row stir.
Meanwhile, Vohra chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed the law and order situation in the state, particularly in Kashmir.An official spokesman said the meeting discussed the movement of essential commodities and fruits on the Lakhanpur-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Special emphasis was laid on the inflow of petroleum products, LPG cylinders, livestock, medicines and other house-hold consumables, he said.He said various issues relating to the transportation of the fruits from the Valley to various markets in the plains were also discussed.
The meeting was given detailed briefings on the law and order issues front and the movement of vehicular traffic on the National Highway carrying essentials, the spokesman said.
Vohra said effective and closely coordinated efforts should be continued for maintaining round-the-clock movement of essential items to ensure their uninterrupted availability in all areas particularly certain rural areas from where some complaints had been received regarding shortages.
The separarist groups and traders’ bodies have been protesting against the ‘economic blockade’ of the Valley in the wake of the agitation over the Amarnath land issue.
Those present in the meeting included the Governor’s three Advisors–H H Tyabji, S S Bloeria and C Phunsog, Chief Secretary S S Kapur, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar- based 15 Corps Lt Gen. Mukesh Sabherwal, Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Goswami, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda and Principal Secretary to Governor B B Vyas.
NC, CPI(M) assure Vohra of support for peace
National Conference and CPI(M) have assured Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra of their continued support to the administration for restoration of peace and harmony in the state.
The assurance was conveyed to Vohra by former Chief Minister and the NC Patron Farooq Abdullah, party president Omar Abdullah and the state secretary of the CPI (M) M Y Tarigami at separate meetings with the Governor here yesterday, an official spokesman said on Sunday.
He said these leaders discussed the overall situation prevailing in the state.Vohra appealed to the leaders of various political parties to mobilize the people for restoring peace.He also referred to the innumerable hardships being suffered by the people at large.
Abdullah assured his party’s continued strong support to the Governor’s efforts in heralding peace and harmony in both the regions of the state.Tarigami also strongly assured the Governor of support and offered certain suggestions in regard to the restoration of communal harmony, the spokesman said.
Besides the all parties meeting convened by him two days ago, the Governor is continuing separate meetings with individual leaders, he said.
Vohra has also established an Advisory Council, representing eminent persons from all the three regions, which would be holding its first meeting later this month, he added. Courtsey DDINEWS