Strike paralyses normal life in J&K

The strike was called by Geelani-led Hurriyat amalgam against the arrest of its leaders and alleged demolition of a mosque at Hari Parbat Fort, reports Rashid Ahmad.

A general shutdown sent normal life out of gear in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. All the shops, business and commercial centers remained closed. Traffic remained off the roads and most of the streets in capital Srinagar presented a deserted look.

The functioning in banks and courts also remained suspended and government offices witnessed minimal presence of the employees, affecting their functioning badly.

The strike was called by Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat amalgam against the arrest of some of its leaders and alleged demolition of a mosque at Hari Parbat Fort, last month. Some groups of angry youth took out protest demonstrations at Maisumma and Nowhatta and clashed with police. Around half a dozen protestors were reported injured during clashes.

Police, on April 27, arrested senior leaders of Geelani-led Hurriyat-Ghulam Nabbi Sumjhi, Masarat Aalam, Mohammad Shafi Lone, Merajuddin Kalwal and Firdous Shah during press conference. The Hurriyat leaders had called the press conference to in connection with the alleged demolition of a mosque at Hari Parbat Fort.

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However police swooped on them as they began to address the press conference and arrested them. Four of them have been booked under Public Safety Act, which provoked severe resentmeent among Hurriyat amalgam.

Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of the amalgam, described the government as "undemocratic" and alleged that the government was trying to muzzle his voice. He said that he would strive for the "cause of Kashmiri people till his last breath".

Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaz Akbar apprecciated people for responding to strike call and described it as "people's rejection of government actions".