There was still no change in the situation in Kashmir valley, where normal life remained crippled for 31st day on Wednesday as shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads due to strike against scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcation of J&K.

Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in the downtown,Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and Srinagar outskirts on Wednesday as a precautionary measure following the death of a youth, who was injured in security for ceaction on demonstrators recently.

Official sources told that restrictions were imposed indown town, SeK and some other areas in Srinagar since early on Wednesday morning. “Security forces remained deployed strength in other parts of the valley as a precautionary measure,” they added.

Meanwhile, people continued to suffer as the gag on all means of communication -- including landline, internet and mobile phone service-- continued in Kashmir valley, where students continued to stay away despite authorities reopening schools upto Class 10th last week.

Business and other activities remained crippled and traffic was off the roads in restriction free areas in Srinagar though there was no strike call from any organisation. Shopkeepers and roadside vendors, mostly selling vegetables, fruits and other essentials, up shutters from 0600 hrs to0900 hrs in Srinagar every day, imposing self regulatory strike timings. The business establishments again closed at 0900 hrs only to be reopening next morning and in some areas in late evening.

The number of vehicles witnessed plying on roads in uptownand civil lines from last couple of days also witnessed a considerable declinein view of the death of the youth.

Security forces were seen deployed in strength in the civillines, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city to preventany demonstration.

Apprehending trouble after the youth succumbed, authoritiesannounced imposition of curfew restrictions in the areas falling under thepolice stations in the down town and SeK since early this morning.

The main Nallahmar road was closed with barbed wire and byparking bullet proof vehicles to prevent any pedestrian and vehicular movement.Security forces deployed in these areas were directing people to remainindoors. People on way to down town from civil lines were stopped at Khanyarand asked to go back by the security forces, who had closed the main road.

All gates of historic Jamia Masjid, the stronghold ofmoderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, alsoremained closed. Security forces could be seen patrolling in the area and Jamiamarket to prevent assembly of people in the worship place, where no prayerscould be offered after August 5 due to restrictions. Mirwaiz and chairman ofhardline HC Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest.

All banks and government offices on main roads in the SeKand down town remained closed.

Business and other activities remained crippled for the 31stday in other district and tehsil headquarters, including Anantnag, Kulgam,Pulwama, Shopian in south Kashmir and Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pattan,Sopore, Handwara and Ajas in north. Reports of shut down were also receivedfrom central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Budgam.

Mobile and internet service of all Cellular companies,including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) remained suspended in the valleysince August 5, when landline were also snapped. However, landlines wererestored in some areas but remained suspended to subscribers, including mediaoffices in the civil lines, from the main telephone exchange.

Due to restoration of landline service in some areas, peoplevisit office of the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, to make phone call to theirrelatives outside has come down considerably.