Normal life disrupts after Hurriyat chief Geelani's strike call in Baramullah dist

Normal life in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was disrupted on Wednesday in response to the strike call given by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference against the alleged gunning down of one its activists by unidentified men.

Normal life was affected in Baramulla district following a shutdown called by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday to protest the killing of a party activist in Sopore town.

Shops, business establishments, public transport, banks, and educational institutions remained shut in the district.

Unknown gunmen had killed Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman in Sopore on Tuesday. Sheikh was son of Mohammad Yusuf, a senior Jamat-e-Islami district president and a close aide of hurriyat chief Geelani.

Sheikh was a government employee working with the health department. He was shot dead while he was on his way home from hospital in Sopore late at night. Sheikh had been on the police radar for some time.

Altaf was also arrested after attacks on telecom operators but was later released after his involvement was ruled out. Geelani condemned the killing and called Shiekh "an activitist of his organization."

Geelani had blamed the "Indian secret agencies" for killing. "This way they actually want to frighten and terrorise the people, who are on the forefront of the freedom struggle,'' a statement from Geelani said.