Srinagar Downtown; Once a commercial hub now a victim of frequent restrictions

An eerie calm, spools of concertina wire, forces personnel in riot-gear dotting the deserted streets and traumatised faces of young and old: This is the most simplified description of Srinagar’s Downtown—once a bustling commercial hub—by its residents braving the brunt of frequent restrictions imposed by the forces there. According to residents of Downtown areas, the frequent imposition of curfews and disallowing of congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid have taken a serious toll on people of all ages and professions. The worst-hit, the residents say, are once-bustling markets of Mahraj…

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