On Sunday, no flights could run from the airport due to bad weather. There was less vehicles on the road that turned slippery after the snowfall. Early morning, authorities ran snow clearance machines across the city. Kashmir University has already postponed all exams that were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Reports suggest, people in the valley have started complaining about the shortages of essential supplies, but the local power development department has maintained a firm electricity supply since the snowfall began.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature was around -2.2 degrees, while it was -6.7 degrees in Gulmarg and -5.3 degrees in Pahalgam.

Disaster management group has released an avalanche warning for Tangdhar, Gurez, Khilanmarg, Uri, Chowkibal, Keran and Machil. People who live in these areas have been asked to leave their homes.

Local policemen from the state police have started the rescue efforts by removing snow from the roads of Srinagar and other places. Police have asked people to contact the nearby police station in case of emergency.

In a day long battle, Army gunned down 5 Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Kashmir’s Kupwara Lolab area. One jawan also lost his life in the operation which continued for 12 hours. 4 security personnel were also injured in the operations which began early morning. According to police sources, 2 among the dead militants were top LeT commanders who have been identified as Saqib and Hammad.

Both the commanders lived in Pakistan. Sources said that police received a tip-off about the company of terrorists inside the house of Ghulam Mohammed Mir. Initially police decided to take upon themselves to combat militants but when it was learnt that there is half a dozen, then they roped in the Army’s local unit. The militants took a woman as hostage and when they were asked to surrender they open fired on the forces.

For the first phase of the elections, more than 2800 candidates will be trying their fate. The last panchayat elections to be held in the valley were in 2001-02 and the next one was scheduled for 2006. But it was postponed because of some security reasons.

B R Sharma, Chief Electoral Officer of J&K said that the panchayat elections will be held in 16 phases and in the 1st phase Bishnah, Samba, Quimouh, Kupwara etc will go for polling. Mr Sharma also added that more than 50 lakh people will be casting their votes for the elections. He further added than more than 29,000 polling stations will be set up for conducting the elections.

Reports are coming that most of the turnout have been good and been positive.

While female literacy rate has increased from 20% in 1981 census to 58% in 2011 census, male literacy rate has increased from 44% in 1981 census to 78% in 2011 census. The districts of Jammu, Leh and Sambha have the highest literacy rate of over 90% while districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Ramban, Budgam, Reasi and Kulgam recorded literacy rates less than 60%.

While literacy rate has something to cheer about, sex ratio is a worrisome factor as there has been a decline in sex ratio in the state. Ahmad said that numbers regarding sex ratio has fallen to the level of 1901.

October 20 — Life resumes to normalcy in the valley. Curfew was lifted on Wednesday from four districts in Kashmir and the Hurriyat Conference exempted the day from protests and strikes.

Police spokesman said, “Authorities have today completely lifted curfew restrictions from the whole of the Valley.”

Violent protests were, however, witnessed in Baramulla area yesterday evening, but the night was peaceful.

The spokesman added, “Situation at this hour is normal and under control throughout Kashmir Valley. There are no reports of any untoward incident reported from any place.”

Three policemen were injured in the clashes out of eleven and six protestors were also injured.

Normal activities were seen in the Srinagar market and other major towns after the lifting of the curfew restrictions. Offices of government as well as private functioned normally and shops were seen opened.

Transports were also running normally on all the routes in the city and districts, said sources. Heavy traffic jam were seen at many places in Srinagar. Police personnel were seen assisting traffic policemen were also seen at some places.

Srinagar, September 28 — Schools and universities normalcy restored in Kashmir valley on Monday by the government, but many students stayed away. Some kept away out of fear and some out fo protest.

Opening up of schools and universities marked the first test of the new political initiative that was announced recently by the Indian government.

The valley is unrest for about three months that has taken at least 108 people in several clashes between stone-throwing protesters and the Indian security forces.

Since the clashes started in June, all the schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained closed in Indian-controlled Kashmir, sometimes due to strikes and many time due to curfews imposed there.

Muhammad Ibrahim, student in University of Kashmir in Srinagar, attended the class at 10 a.m. for the first day after 14 weeks, but he was the only student present in the class of 38. He navigated through several checkpoints on his way from home to make it for school. Curfew impeded many students from reaching satellite locations in the valley.

Saliq Abbas, student from University of Kashmir, said: “The government insists that we go to classes because they want to show the international community that things are normal here in Kashmir.”

Srinagar, September 27 – Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet Leader Syed Ali Gilani charged the occupation authorities in Kashmir for using students to suppress the movement.

In a statement he said in occupied Kashmir authorities in disguise of education using students to suppress the ongoing movement. He said that it was a conspiracy to make the education as a medium for curbing movement.

The leader asked parents not to send their wards to the schools on curfews. However, he was not against in attending schools during normal days.

“We are also concerned about the education of our children. I want to maintain that we are aware about the importance of education but at the same time how can we forget that most of the 109 youth and teenagers who fell to bullets of troopers and cops, were students,” he added.

Syed Ali Gilani criticized the authorities, saying in one hand Indian army and police were trying to suppress the movement in the garb of education and on the other hand they were concern about their education. He said police arrested several students under false accusation.

The veteran leader proclaimed that the liberation struggle had reached an important phase and Kashmiris were prepared for any sacrifice. He affirmed that people from all walks of life supported the movement

New Delhi, September 25 — Kashmir gets Sunday eight-point formula by the Centre and also a review on deployment of security forces there. Home minister P Chidambaram unveiled a package of measures approved by the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) at a meeting presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. PC also said that the J&K government will be advised to review the notification of “Disturbed Areas”.

The valley is unrest since June 10 and has claimed 105 lives so far.

However, while briefing to the media, Chidambaram did not mentioned whether the review of the Disturbed Areas was the begining of any phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

State chief minister Omar Abdullah welcomed this initiative of the Centre. He said that it is a positive development and it must be leading to resolution of all political issues of the state.

The CCS took this initiative after reviewing the situation of Kashmir and also considering the 36-member all-party delegation report that was submitted by Chidambaram, who led the team.

The Centre has also advised the state government to release the arrested students and youth detained for stone pelting and other similar violations of law and withdraw all the charges.

Kolkata, September 16 — Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi says Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah “needs time and support” addressing a press conference in Kolkata city. Gandhi also ruled out his intervention in J&K affairs and refuse to give any comment on demands for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the valley.

When asked whether Omar Abdullah had failed, Rahul Gandhi said, “The government has supported Omar Abdullah. National Conference is the party in power. He is a youngster. Kashmir is a difficult place. Omar is doing a tough job and he should be given time and support.”

He added further that the Congress was supporting Omar and he is the leader of the NC saying, “It is their decision to run Kashmir. They are in a partnership… I think we have to give him support. Kashmir is a sensitive job. We have to give him time and support.”

Gandhi corrected one of the press persons that he did not say the situation in Kashmir was critical.

On Tuesday night, amidst the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, Mufti had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi that led to speculation that there may be a revival between the two parties, which may form a government in Kashmir.

Srinagar, September 14 — A new schedule of protest is issued by by Syed Ali Shah Geelani of Hurriyat Conference for Kashmir asking people to carry out normal activities of life from dusk to dawn on 11-day strikes.

The 11-day strike is in protest of the ongoing agitation in the Valley. Two days, September 19 and 22, have been exempted from the strike.

Geelani has asked the people of Kashmir to carry out their day to day activities from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the strike days.

He said in a statement, “All business establishments, including manufacturing units, flour mills and cement factories will remain open from 7pm to 7am.”

The statement said that all the shops and other business establishments in the valley can do normal business at night and transporters can also ply normally from dusk to dawn.

Geelani has called the people of Kashmir for a march on September 21 to the security forces’ camps for holding peaceful protests to highlight their demands.

Since June 11 Kashmir has been rocked by violent protest following the killing of a teenager in security forces firing. So far 88 people have died in the unrest.