Normal life crippled in Kashmir due to day-long strike

TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/18/2018 3:55:48 PM Regional News

Srinagar, Oct 18: Normal life was crippled in Kashmir valley on Thursday as shops and business establishments were closed, while traffic was off the road due to an ongoing strike called by the separatists, against the civilian killings here.

A youth was arrested and as many as 12 journalists were thrashed by the security forces, while covering an encounter.

Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions were imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar in the downtown and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) since Thursday morning as a precautionary measure, to prevent any violation of law and order.

Restrictions under the jurisdiction of police station Kralkhud in the old city and Maisuma in Civil Lines have also been partially imposed in some areas.

Work in government offices and banks was affected, while all educational institutes remained closed, in view of the strike in Kashmir valley, where train service has again been suspended, for security reasons.

Majority of shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road in Civil Lines and uptown Srinagar, though few private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in restriction-free areas.

Business and other activities remained crippled in main business hubs of the city, including the historic Lal Chowk, nerve centre of this summer capital; Budshah Chowk; Regal Chowk; Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS); Batmaloo; Moulana Azad Road; Residency Road and Dalgate.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik, stand against the 'killing' of a civilian besides raids, arrests of youths, thrashing of journalists by security forces and other alleged atrocities, a statement issued here said.

Hundreds of security forces and state police personnel were deployed to stop protests in major towns and tehsil headquarters of Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama in south Kashmir, where shops and other business remained closed.

The situation was tense in Pulwama, where a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in the wee hours of Thursday.

Life came to a grinding halt in central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal also.

A report from Baramulla said life was crippled in this and other north Kashmir towns and tehsil headquarters, where shops were closed and traffic was off the road. Additional security forces have been deployed in the entire north Kashmir, to prevent any law and order problem.


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