Srinagar: The Jamia Market in the Nowhatta area of the old city remained open on Wednesday, the 35th death anniversary of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, ending a long tradition of shutdown in the area on this day.
Courtesy efforts by the police, local traders, and Jamia Auqaf Committee, Jamia Market, which would remain closed on this day since May 5, 1990 — the day Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq was assassinated – remained open after over three decades today.
“For years to come, the late Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq will continue to be our leader. He was the leader of consciousness, and his ultimate sacrifice, which he made for the sake of society, will never be forgotten. We believe that shutting the Jamia Market and the surrounding areas would not go down well with the people anymore because the valley has seen decades of strife, something our late leader would never have desired,” Tariq Ahmad, a local told ‘Kashmir Images’.
He said the market had been closed on this day every year since Mirwaiz was assassinated in 1990. However, a mutual agreement to open the market was reached this year as a result of ongoing negotiations between various stakeholders and the police.
“Development of the area and enduring peace, not shutdowns, will be the greatest homage to the late leader. He never supported violence, but was rather a peacemaker,” he added.
While the Jamia Market was bustling with shoppers, the shopkeepers were delighted to see customers visiting their shops in hordes for the first time on this day in 35 years.
The reopening of Jamia Market after 35 years on May 21 was intended to alleviate people’s stress rather than to enforce law, a senior police official said.
“Did anyone accomplish anything by observing the shutdown? Did seeing violence on this day help them cope with their stress? No, they saw adversity, uneasiness, and loss of business. Therefore, I believe that both locals and traders were relieved by the decision to end the decades-old tradition of shutdown,” he told ‘Kashmir Images’
