Fed up with repeated strikes by separatists in the Kashmir Valley, shopkeepers are up in arms against protestors, who are tasting their own bitter pill as locals are attacking them with stones.
In a unique protest against separatists who have been forcing businesses to shut down under one pretext or another, shopkeepers have given stone pelters a taste of their own medicine.
Separatists trying to enforce a shut down at a local market at Peerbagh in Budgham district of Central Kashmir recently, were greeted by stone-throwing shopkeepers who forced the separatists to retreat.
Peerbagh has been the scene of violent protests during the last few weeks and shopkeepers were reportedly incensed that their business was suffering as a result of frequent calls to shut shop.
After chasing the separatists away, the shopkeepers marched to the police station and filed an FIR against 10 people of neighbouring Nabir Gund village holding them responsible for disturbing peace in Peerbagh.
The policemen present at Peergarh during the clash did not intervene as they felt they were outnumbered.
Similar incidents of public anger against separatists have been reported from other parts of the valley also. In Meehama Pulwama in South Kashmir three days ago, locals beat up four men trying to enforce a strike in the area.
In Ompura area of central Kashmir, there have been angry exchanges between local traders and protesters who were forcing businessmen to shut their shops.
The frequent shutdowns enforced by separatists have hit economic activity in Kashmir. Ordinary people have been been the worst affected and many people have been seen selling off their belongings at distress rates.
The turmoil has not only brought tourism to an abrupt halt but also forced shops and business establishments to remain closed for nearly two months now.
Sensing the distress, some clerics have also been making fervent appeals from mosques to open shops and restore normalcy in violence affected areas.
In Anantnag in South Kashmir, shopkeepers were asked to open their shops so that people did not have to face hardship during the holy month of Ramzan.
Senior police officials said people were voicing their concern and police was intervening only where matters threatened to get unruly.
"At the moment such protests are scattered but it is heartening that people have started coming out to register their protest against the separatists," said a senior police official.
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