KASHMIR: Life comes to a grinding halt due to daylong strike

Srinagar, Jan 20: Life was again affected as business and other activities came to a grinding halt in support of separatists day-long strike call today in Kashmir, which reeled under unrest since July 9. This if for the first time since July 9, the separatists have given a strike call only on a single day in a week. Meanwhile, police officials told UNI that there was no curfew or restrictions in any part of the Valley though security forces remained deployed in strength to maintain law and order. However, the markets, which witnessed less business in the city from last five days due to snowfall, were again closed while few private and public vehicles, besides three-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in the summer capital and on the city outskirts. All shops were closed in the main business hubs in Civil Lines, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city. Situation was no different in uptown and downtown Srinagar, where markets were closed while less number of public and private vehicles were plying on the roads. Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, spearheading the agitation since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, in its latest protest calendar had given strike only on three days, January 20, 26 and 27, in the last fortnight of this month. The separatist had already reduced the duration of strike to only Friday and Saturday in a week for the past about one month. Earlier, there was relaxation in strike for only weekends in a week. Government offices and banks were also affected as some employees could not make it to their offices due to non availability of transport. A report from Baramulla said business and other activities again came to a grinding halt in support of separatist strike call in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarters. However, security forces and state police personnel remained deployed to stop protests after Friday prayers. Despite chilly weather conditions, security forces remained deployed in Anantnag and other major towns and tehsil headquarters. Similar reports were also received from Badgam and Ganderbal districts.