SRINAGAR, July 27: Central Kashmir’s Budgam is observing a complete shutdown, not over a call by separatists, but over what they say was government’s insensitive approach towards day-to-day issues.
Shops were closed and traffic was hit in Budgam town to protest against the shifting of a bus stand. People are demanding that the bus stand functioned at its original place.
Protests and shutdowns over governance issues are becoming frequent in this Himalayan region where tens of thousands have died due to violence involving militants and security forces ever since an anti-India rebellion began two decades ago.
With violence waning, issues related to day-to-day living of people are surfacing besides the already prominent sentiment.
The shutdown in Budgam coincides with a strike in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district where people are protesting against the killing of a youth by army soldiers.
Months ago, businessmen in North Kashmir’s Sopore town – considered a hub of separatist sentiment – closed their shops to protest against a series of thefts in the area.
Just days ago, police had to use force to quell protests by people, including women, in many parts of the region over shortage of power in the holy month of Ramadhan.
