In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, extensive traffic restrictions imposed by the Indian authorities for the annual Amarnath Yatra have disrupted normal life and economic activity.

According to Kashmir Media Service, strict traffic regulations enforced since Thursday to facilitate Yatra convoys have restricted civilian movement on major routes in Jammu and along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.

The curbs have severely affected the transportation of Kashmir’s fruit produce, with trucks carrying perishable goods remaining stranded on the highway for long hours.

The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union has urged the authorities to ensure the uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway.

Repeated road closures, intensive frisking, military checkpoints and movement restrictions during the Yatra period have also affected local businesses and the tourism sector.

Meanwhile, Indian troops continued their large-scale cordon and search operation in Rajouri district for the 44th consecutive day today.  

On the other hand, the Lieutenant Governor of the occupied territory suspended eight officials of the School Education Department over the approval of a library book titled Personalities and Legends of Jammu and Kashmir following pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

The occupation authorities also banned the authors and their publishers and ordered the withdrawal of all their printed material.