Normalcy returns, Omar released, Geelani still under house arrest

Srinagar: Life returned to normal in the Kashmir valley, where restrictions and strike, called by separatists, crippled business and other activities yesterday.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and other leaders of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) were released while chairman of breakaway HC Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest.
Shops and business establishments reopened in the summer capital, Srinagar and all other major towns and tehsil headquarter this morning.
Traffic was plying on all routes, resulting in frequent traffic jams on important routes, including Srinagar-Airport, Rambagh- Natipora and in the civil lines routes .
Educational institutions also reopened today after summer vacations. Government offices and bank, which were closed yesterday due to Holiday on account of Martyrs Day, were functioning normally.
A spokesman of the moderate HC Shahidul Islam said Mirwaiz Omar and other hurriayt leaders, including Bilal Gani Lone and Prof Abdul Gani Bhat who were put under house arrest on July 12, were released late last night.
He said the security forces and state police personnel, deployed outside their houses, were withdrawn.
However, security forces deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani remained deployed.
A spokesman of the HC said Mr Geelani was again informed that he cannot move out till further orders.
The separatist leaders were put under house arrest after they had given ” Mazar-e-Shoudha” challo call yesterday to pay homage to martyrs of 1931.
However, almost all mainstream leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his Cabinet colleagues and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed visited the Mazar and paid floral tributes to martyrs yesterday.