GILGIT, Sept 3: Normalcy returned to Gilgit on Monday following acts of violence over the past weeks in which many people were killed. Markets witnessed rush of people with business activity gaining momentum.

Those stuck up in their villages in far off areas started reaching Gilgit to attend offices and schools after traffic on roads was restored.

The Karakoram International University was also reopened on Monday.

The district administration claimed to have arrested 20 suspects allegedly involved in sectarian terrorism and said a major breakthrough was about to be achieved as the ‘noose around miscreants has been tightened’.

Deputy Commissioner Gilgit Tariq Arqam while talking to reporters said all academic institutions both private and government had been reopened while adequate arrangements for the security of the government employees had been put in place.

Mr Arqam said 200 students had been airlifted by C-130 so they could appear in examinations and attend their colleges and universities elsewhere.