Three Ex-Chief Ministers and dozens of other leaders, including former ministers and legislators, remained under detention in the Kashmir valley since August 5, when centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A, besides divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
The pre-paid mobile and Internet service of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), also remained suspended for the past 137 days.
Meanwhile, for the first time since August 5, prayers were offered in the historic Jamia Masjid in the down town on Wednesday afternoon.
However, shops and business establishments are functioning and transport plying normally in the Kashmir valley after more than three months spontaneous strike against withdrawing special status of the state.
Dozens of leaders of different political parties, including three former Chief Ministers—Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti—ex-legislators and ex-ministers remained under detention since August 5.
Large number of separatist leaders are also under detention in and outside the UT jails. However, chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) are under house arrest in the valley.
Spontaneous strike was observed against scrapping of special status of the state since August 5 for about three months. However, shops and business establishments later started functioning for four to five hours in the morning for the past one month. Now normal business activities are going on throughout the day in the valley.