All photographs by Umer Asif
Hours long curfew and communication blockade has spiralled daily life out of the loop. The government had instantly moved for strict restrictions on civilian movement after the news of the death of Syed Ali Shah Geelani spread.
Geelani, the veteran Kashmiri leader, had succumbed to prolonged illness at his home in Srinagar Wednesday night. Soon after, the mobile internet connections were snapped. The rest of the channels of communication followed th suit gradually, except the fluctuating government-owned BSNL services.
Kashmir’s police chief told the reporters that a call on the restoration of communications services in an official meeting on Friday evening.
Locals from Srinagar’s downtown told The Kashmir Walla that the restriction were tightened ahead of the Friday prayers. “There are paramilitary personnel everywhere,” a 23-year-old from Nawakadal area. “People want to offer prayers but there is an uncertainty in the situation. We cannot really understand anything.”
The Kashmir Walla needs you, urgently. Only you can do it.
We have always come to you for help: The Kashmir Walla is battling at multiple fronts — and if you don’t act now, it would be too late. 2020 was a year like no other and we walked into it already battered. The freedom of the press in Kashmir was touching new lows as the entire population was gradually coming out of one of the longest communication blackouts in the world.
We are not a big organization. A few thousand rupees from each one of you would make a huge difference.
The Kashmir Walla plans to extensively and honestly cover — break, report, and analyze — everything that matters to you. You can help us.
