Srinagar, August 10: In view of the upcoming Eid al-Adha or Bakrid festival, Srinagar District Magistrate Shahid Choudhary on Saturday announced that government employees will get advance salary today. Shahid Choudhary informed that authorities also eased prohibitory orders in most parts of Srinagar. He also said banks across Srinagar opened today and as many as 250 ATMs were functional.

"More than 250 ATMs have been made functional in #Srinagar. Bank branches also open. Advance salary on Eid eve being credited today," Choudhary replied to a tweet. "Restrictions have been eased in most parts of #Srinagar," the District Magistrate said in another tweet. Normalcy returned in Jammu region of the state days after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. MEA Responds to Pakistan's 'Downgrading' of Bilateral Ties With India Over Article 370 Row, Says Move 'Not Surprising'.

Srinagar District Magistrate Shahid Choudhary's Tweet:

On Friday, the administration in Jammu and Kashmir had eased prohibitory orders to allow Friday prayers in local mosques and for people to make arrangements for Monday's Eid or Bakrid celebrations. Jammu and Kashmir was put under complete lockdown on August 11, a day before the government scrapped the special status of the state under Article 370. Pakistan Suspends Samjhauta Express Services After Article 370 Abrogation From Jammu and Kashmir, But Says Work on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Will Continue.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Home Affairs termed a media report as "completely fabricated and incorrect" that claimed there was a protest by 10,000 people in Srinagar on Friday when restrictions were eased. The MHA said the news report "originally published in Reuters and which appeared in the Dawn claims there was a protest involving 10,000 people in Srinagar".

"This is completely fabricated and incorrect. There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar/Baramulla, and none involved a crowd of more than 20 people," it said in a tweet.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2019 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).