Shutdown call against mosque 'desecration' hits life in Kashmir
Normal life was affected in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday following a shutdown call by separatists against the alleged desecration of the Jamia Masjid by security forces on Friday.
Normal life was affected in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday following a shutdown call by separatists against the alleged desecration of the Jamia Masjid by security forces on Friday.
The strike call was given by moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the Valley's chief cleric. The Auqaf committee of Jamia Masjid call was supported by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani.
Shopkeepers and devotees in the Jamia Masjid on Friday had accused the security forces of desecrating the historic mosque after Friday prayers.
Various trade bodies had also supported the strike call.
Shops and other business establishments are closed on Saturday while public transport was off the roads. However, private transport could be seen plying in some areas.
The government had deployed police and paramilitary forces in large strength across the Valley.
However, the clashes between protesters and forces erupted in many parts of the Valley. Police resorted to teargas shelling to quell protests in Maisuma and Gojwara areas.
The protesters also waved Pakistan and Islamic State (IS) flags during the clashes in Gojwara.
Meanwhile, the government had put senior separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest on Friday evening as he was scheduled to lead protests
against the 'desecration' of the mosque.
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