Martyr’s Memorial Row: Losses worth Rs 50 crore suffered

Pulwama: The continuous shutdown in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district for the past 12 days has shattered the business community. Estimating the losses, a renowned trader from the district told CNS that each time the district observes a complete shutdown; the business community suffers a loss of Rs 5 crore a day.

“So far the losses incurred by the business community in the district have exceeded Rs 50 crore. We have been eagerly waiting for an end to the standoff between the police and the youth in the district. The irony is that nobody from the administration is concerned about the common people,” he said.

“It is not only losses incurred by the traders in Pulwama district alone but the whole Valley has witnessed shutdowns for nearly 2000 days in 25 years which is equivalent to spending more than five years under shutdown,” he said, adding that people have been suffering heavily also owing to the curfew and restrictions imposed by the district administration from time to time.

The shutdown in the district continued for the 12th consecutive day in Pulwama on Monday as people protested after a police party according to locals arrested 8 youth when they were playing cricket in the Bandzoo area of the district.

“Scores of youth have been picked up on charges of stone-pelting. Police raids continue in the district. Some of the arrested are the relatives of the youth who are absconding,” locals said.

All the business establishments, shops and offices remained closed while traffic was completely off the roads.

Pertinently, the district has been observing a shutdown against the police’s refusal to erect a slain militants memorial in the Shaheed Park of the town.