The J&K flag that fluttered atop Civil Secretariat complex alongside the national flag in Srinagar was taken off on Sunday, three weeks after the abrogation of Article 370.

With this went away the last sign of Article 370 which granted special status to the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

J&K Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh was first to remove the State flag from his official vehicle on August 6.

The tricolour alone will now flutter atop the Civil Secretariat complex and other Government buildings.

Before the abrogation of Article 370, the J&K State was permitted to fly its own flag along with the National flag under Article 370.

The State flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of J&K on June 7, 1952.

According to highly placed official sources, the J&K flag was removed from the Civil Secretariat complex early on Sunday after necessary instructions were passed by the authorities concerned.

The decision to remove the J&K flag was delayed partially due to prevailing tension in the region.

Partial restoration of normalcy in the last one week motivated the officials to execute the task.

During the recently concluded 73rd Independence Day celebrations, the State flag was seen fitted alongside National flag on the official vehicles of VIPs who inspected the parade after unfurling the tricolour.

Meanwhile, situation remained peaceful across the Valley on Sunday. Posting a tweet on Sunday evening, Kashmir Zone police said, “No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere so far.”

On the other hand, defending the decision to suspend network services and internet facilities since August 5, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday claimed the decision was taken to prevent a backlash in the region.

Referring to media reports highlighting shortage of essential commodities including medicines in Kashmir Valley, the Governor told reporters in New Delhi that there is no shortage of essential commodities. He said the lack of communication lines is a better option than loss of lives.

Referring to similar situations in the past, he said “In all the crises that happened in Kashmir in the past, at least 50 people used to die in the first week itself.” So far, no deaths have been reported from the State.

“Our attitude is such that there should be no loss of human lives. If there’s no telephone for 10 days, so be it. But we will roll back these measures very soon,” he added.