Srinagar, Aug. 13 -- Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, V.K. Bidhuri, on Wednesday said Jammu and Kashmir has moved past the era when shopkeepers and students followed shutdown calls and schedules dictated by "someone else's calendar", and is now firmly on its own course, with schools and markets operating according to official plans and the people's needs.

Speaking at the full-dress rehearsal for Independence Day celebrations in Srinagar, Bidhuri said this transformation was made possible by the sacrifices of security forces and the resilience of citizens. "We have achieved the freedom to make decisions according to our own independence," he said, adding that the administration was determined to protect and build on this progress.

The Di...