Protest in Srinagar against illegal commercial activities in residential area
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, angry residents of Rawalpora in Srinagar staged a protest against official indifference towards illegal commercial activities that have transformed their peaceful residential colony into a hub of noise, congestion and public inconvenience.
According to Kashmir Media Service, residents of Pine Avenue Colony assembled near a local mosque and raised slogans against the operation of a hotel and a proposed marriage hall in the area, saying the activities have severely disrupted normal life and violated the residential character of the locality. The protesters carried placards demanding enforcement of building laws and protection of residents’ rights.
The demonstrators said the hotel has become a constant source of disturbance due to loud music, traffic jams, roadside parking and overcrowding, making life miserable for families, elderly citizens and patients. They expressed particular concern over plans to establish a marriage hall adjacent to the hotel, warning that it would further aggravate the situation and create unbearable conditions for residents.
Residents said that despite objections raised over the years and reports of a sealing order, the hotel continues to operate unchecked. They questioned how commercial activities were being conducted at a site approved for residential purposes and accused the authorities of failing to uphold regulations and address public grievances.
The protesters said the establishment’s activities have repeatedly blocked vital roads linking several areas of Srinagar, while functions organized at the venue have generated excessive noise and traffic congestion. They also voiced concern over the impact on the sanctity of a nearby mosque and the overall social environment of the neighborhood. Appealing to the administration, police and civil authorities, the residents demanded immediate intervention to restore peace and legality in the area. They warned that continued official silence would compel them to intensify their agitation in defense of their rights and the residential character of the colony.
The protest reflects growing public frustration over governance failures, selective enforcement of regulations and the neglect of genuine civic concerns in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
