Life remained affected due to strikefor the 74th day on Thursday in the Kashmir valley, where people are protestingagainst the scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, besides dividing the state intotwo Union Territories on August 5.

Meanwhile, train service and post-paid mobile and internetservice of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL) remained suspended since August 5 as a precautionary measure thoughauthorities recently restored post-paid mobile network in the valley.

 Students continued tostay away from their classes since August 5 though government announced thatexaminations of 10th and 12th classes will be held from the last week of thismonth and there will be no relaxation in syllabus.Barring few incidents ofstone pelting in different parts of the valley and killing of a Punjab residentand injured another by gunmen in Shopian, the situation remained by and largepeaceful during the past 24 hours.According to police there is no curfewrestriction in any part of the valley on Thursday. However, restriction underSection 144 CrPC continued and additional Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF)remained deployed in strength since August 5 to prevent any law and orderproblem.

Majority shopkeepers resumed their normal activities thismorning in the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, and other businesshubs in the summer capital today from 0600 hrs. However, life again came tohalt at 0930 hrs when traders left for their homes. Public transport was off theroads in the city. However, the number of private vehicles and number of threewheelers on the roads, particularly in the civil lines and uptown has witnessedincrease. The State Road Transport Corporation (SRT) buses also remained offthe roads.

The historic Jamia masjid, stronghold of chairman ofmoderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, presently underhouse arrest, remained closed for devotees since August 5. Adequate number ofsecurity forces remained deployed in the Jamia market and outside the worshipplace to maintain law and order.

Life remained paralysed elsewhere in the valley, with shopsand business establishments remained closed and traffic off the roads inKupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pattan, Handwara and Sopore in north Kashmir.Reports of strike were also received from Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Pamporeand Kulgam in south Kashmir, where additional security forces remained deployedto maintain law and order. There was also no change in the situation in thecentral Kashmir districts of Badgam and Ganderbal, where business and otheractivities remained paralysed.