Protests continued against the lockdown of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Wednesday, but it was the issue of a stamped hand that was their rallying point.

The only way civilians could travel on the highway was by getting a stamped pass issued by duty magistrates who were placed at important junctions. However, one person got not the pass but rather his own hand stamped and signed. This issue became a rallying point for protesters who called it inhuman.

"This is how permission is granted to people in Jammu and Kashmir to use their highway. Their hands are being stamped and written on. Should we be flippant and mock the attempt at saving paper? I'm just angry at the degrading, inhuman treatment being meted out to people," said former chief minister Omar Abdullah.

Omar and another former CM Mehbooba Mufti staged a sit-in protest demanding the revocation of the order. Mehbooba even went to the extent of asking people to defy the ban and to ply their vehicles on the highway. "People should defy the ban and ply their vehicles on the highway. We will see who will stop you. It's not like Israel and Palestine," she said.

Later, district development commissioner of Anantnag, Khalid Jahangir, said they are verifying the stamp issue. "We are definitely verifying it. Let us see. It's difficult to reach any conclusion. We have to get it verified", he said.