Ahead of Eid-ul Azha, banks, ATMs and quite a few markets remained open on Sunday in Kashmir and restrictions were eased allowing people to come out to shop, while the administration said it was taking steps to facilitate availability of food and other items and offering of prayers in mosques on Monday.
The usual hustle and bustle of the festival was missing in the Valley where normal life has been paralysed following heavy security deployment, restrictions on movement and curtailing of communication links after the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5.
Officials said there has been no report of violence anywhere in the Valley.
Normalcy was fast returning in most of the Jammu region where restrictions under section 144 CrPc have been completely lifted in five districts. In the other five district, restrictions have been relaxed to facilitate Eid preparations, officials said.
"Everything is peaceful. The restriction have eased and there has been lot of improvement in public and transport movement," Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.
Magistrates have been deployed at every critical place to act as facilitators for the convenience of the general public, an official spokesperson said.
More From This Section
Six 'mandies' and markets have been established in Srinagar city while 2.5 lakh sheep have been made available for public for sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha on Monday. The authorities have also deployed mobile vans for door to door delivery of vegetables, LPG cylinders, poultry and eggs, officials said.
With all communication links disrupted since August 5 after the scrapping Article 370 provisions, Jammu and Kashmir's governor's administration issued an advisory saying that 300 special telephone booths are being established to help public communicate with their kin.
The district administrations are constantly reviewing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and they will facilitate people to offer prayers in mosques during Eid, an official told PTI, requesting anonymity.
Last Friday, people were allowed to visit neighbourhood mosques and offer prayers there. However, large gatherings were not allowed in any part of the Valley.
Asked about the restrictions imposed on communication links, the official said these were "temporary" measures taken to maintain peace and prevent circulation of misinformation and rumours.
"The government is conscious of the ground situation and doing utmost so that there is minimum inconvenience to the people. Everyday something or the other restrictions are relaxed. We will take decisions on lifting restrictions on phones as early as possible," he said.
The official said all decisions are not taken by the central government and local administrations are taking a call wherever necessary, particularly in regard to law and order.
"We have received and made 4,600 calls during last three days," another official said, adding they have "reached out to 150 houses to help them connect to their kin".
District Magistrates have made elaborate arrangements for the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the official spokesman said, adding treasuries, banks and ATMs have been made functional even on holiday in the run-up to the festival