Kashmir shutdown on Hurriyat call

A general strike sponsored by the moderate Hurriyat conference paralysed normal life in the Kashmir Valley with shops, government departments, banks and schools closed.

A general strike sponsored by the moderate Hurriyat conference paralysed normal life in the Kashmir Valley on Monday with shops, government departments, banks and schools closed.

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The strike coincides with the 17th death anniversary of late Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq who was assassinated in 1990 in his Nageen residence here as also that of Abdul Gani Lone, Peoples Conference (PC) founder and Hurriyat chairman, murdered in 2002.

Shops in summer capital Srinagar were shut and public transport was off the roads. However, private transport was seen plying in parts of the city where security was high.

State government offices, banks, educational institutions were also closed.

The moderate Hurriyat is organising a public rally at the Eidgah graveyard this afternoon. Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other leaders are scheduled to address the rally.

From early Monday morning, groups of Mirwaiz supporters made rounds of various city areas asking people to observe a strike and join the procession that would start from downtown Srinagar.

Reports from other Valley towns said the shops and business establishments were shut. However, traffic was partially plying.

"We have made elaborate security arrangements in the city," a senior police officer here said.