Geelani calls shutdown over boat capsize

Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday called for a shutdown in the Valley on Thursday as a mark of respect for the dead.

Expressing grief at the death of 22 people in a boat capsize incident, senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday called for a shutdown in the Valley on Thursday as a mark of respect for the dead.

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"Death of children is a national loss. I appeal to the people of Kashmir to observe shutdown tomorrow as a mark of respect to the deceased and solidarity with the bereaved families," said Geelani, the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference who was put under house arrest by the state police on Wednesday.

He alleged that negligence on the part of teachers and navy personnel was responsible for the tragedy at the Wullar lake on Tuesday. Twenty-one school children were among the dead.

"Overloading and the absence of life jackets were responsible for the tragedy. Besides, the Wullar lake is always furious at this time of the summer and the navy personnel who permitted the ride should have known this," he said.