Massive security movement was reported in Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir on Saturday a day after Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).According to wire service Kashmir News Observer (KNO), witnesses said that the forces has intensified the patrolling in the area since Saturday morning, with halting vehicles, asking for ID proofs at many places.There was no relief in restrictions which was contradictory what people have been thinking from last some days. The market places of Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian remained shut on the 55th straight day today and public transport was off the roads.“The army patrolling has intensified from yesterday evening in dozens of villages of Pulwama,” Jawad Ahmad, a Pulwama resident told KNO. Witnesses said that several youth were rushed to district hospital Pulwama in last few days after they were allegedly badly thrashed by the patrolling parties. “We thought something concrete will come out of UNGA and we will plan our day to day activities accordingly, however, we might have to wait for few more days till some results will come out from UNGA,” Bashir Ahmad, an apple grower from Pulwama said.
Earlier, there were apprehensions that people would come out of their homes for apple crop plucking, but the same proved wrong. “We thought 28th September will bring some relief to the people here after India and Pakistan will address Kashmir issue and its possible solution,” a chemist at Shopian told KNO.However, the situation remained tense today also and there were reports of stone pelting incident at several places in the area.Vehicle movement remained disrupted several times during the day at Chattergam, Kanipora, Bag I Mehtab and other areas since morning. “People blocked road at Chattergam, Kanipora by placing huge boulders on the road, thus, forcing commuters and patients to change their routes,” Sajad Ahmad from Nowgam, Srinagar said.The people have also hardened their stand, thus, making the movement of people difficult today.“Youth also pelted stones several times during the day and damaged many vehicles- including the ones ferrying the ailing people,” he said.(KNO)