Travel restriction withdraws for tourists in Kashmir

More than two months after tourists in Jammuand Kashmir were asked to leave the state, as the centre prepared to revoke itsspecial status and divide it into two union territories, the administrationsaid it will lift the restrictions on Thursday. "Governor Shri Satya PalMalik held a Situation cum Security Review Meeting today with the Advisors andthe Chief Secretary. The Governor directed that the Home Department's advisoryasking tourists to leave the valley be lifted immediately.

Jammu and Kashmir will open for tourists fromThursday two months after an advisory was issued asking tourists to leave theValley due to "terror threat".

The decision to lift the curb was announced by the Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday following a "situation-cum-security review" meeting with the advisers and the chief secretary.

The Centre had, on August 2, cancelled theAmarnath Yatra and advised pilgrims and tourists to cut short their stay in theValley "immediately" in view of the "intelligence inputs of terror threats",days before the revocation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu andKashmir.

In another move, the administration re-openedhigher secondary schools, colleges and universities on Wednesday. In Srinagar,security forces were stationed outside the prestigious Sri Pratap College andwere allowing students on the campus after checking their identity cards. "Icame here to get the study material and not to attend the classes. The teacherstold us that the classes can only start once the situation becomes normal,"said a chemistry student, who did not wish to be named.

Restrictions, imposed in the aftermath ofCentre's August 5 move to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmirinto two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, have been lifted inphases in the past two months. But a shutdown against the government's movecontinues while mobile and internet services remain largely blocked.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah were allowed to meet party delegation in Srinagar on October 6. The Abdullahs along with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has been in detention since August.

The Congress, however, has decided to boycott these elections citing the continued detention of political leaders. "Congress believes in strengthening democratic institutions and it has never shied away from any polls. But today, we are compelled to take a decision to boycott the BDC polls due to the indifferent attitude of the state administration and the continued detention of senior party leaders in the Valley," J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said.