Communication blockade, lockdown enters 97th day in IOK

SRINAGAR (Web Desk) – The worst curfew, communication blockade and lockdown entered in 97th consecutive day on Saturday in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) imposed by India. According to the KMS, people have been facing tense situation after the Modi government imposed military siege and communications blockade on August 5 in Kashmir when it scrapped its special status. Even in this modern age of technology, internet across all platforms and prepaid cellular networks remains out of bounds for residents of the Kashmir Valley. Though landline connections and voice calls on postpaid mobile phones have been partially restored, yet life continues to remain out of gear in the territory. Shops open briefly in the morning and evening hours but even this window is more often than not disrupted due to the continuing uncertainty. Hundreds of thousands of people are besieged and Jammu and Kashmir has become a big jail for its inhabitants. Schools in the Kashmir valley continue to remain shut as parents are not ready to risk the lives of their children in the prevailing grim situation. On the other hand, people are facing acute shortage of essential commodities including baby food and life-saving medicines and the valley represents a humanitarian crisis. It is also worth mentioning here that the Kashmiris are unable to stock the essential commodities for winter season. It will cost huge number of deaths even if curfew is lifted in later part of summer. The Kashmir valley remains cut off from the rest of the world due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway due to snowfall during most part of winter.