Two months after travel ban, Kashmir now open for tourists

Srinagar : Two months after a travel ban was imposed on the Jammu and Kashmir due to a 'terror threat', it will now be open for the tourists from Thursday onwards, read an advisory issued by the government.

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 the Amarnath Yatra and advised pilgrims and tourists to cut short their stay in the Valley “immediately” in view of the “intelligence inputs of terror threats”, days before the revocation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

In another respite for the residents of the state, the higher secondary schools, colleges and universities have also been reopened from Wednesday.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, In Srinagar, security forces were stationed outside the prestigious Sri Pratap College and were allowing students on the campus after checking their identity cards. “I came here to get the study material and not to attend the classes. The teachers told us that the classes can only start once the situation becomes normal,” said a chemistry student, who did not wish to be named.

Recently, Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah met his party leaders after government gave the delegation a permission to meet them. The Abdullahs along with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti have been in detention since August.