Strike disrupts normal life in Kashmir
Strike disrupts normal life in Kashmir Photo/Javed Khan
Srinagar, Apr 03: Normal life was paralysed in Valley for the second day today on a strike call given by separatists to protest the killings in encounters in Shopian and Anantnag districts on Sunday even as restrictions on movement of people continued in three south Kashmir districts and some parts of the city.
“Restrictions under section 144 CrPC are in place for the second day in Kulgam and Shopian districts and parts of Anantnag as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
Similar restrictions were also imposed in five police station areas of the city including Khanyar, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Safakadal.
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained closed for the second day as authorities decided to suspend classwork to prevent any law and order problems. All examinations and interviews scheduled to be held today by universities in the valley were also postponed.
Shops and other business establishments also remained closed while public transport remained off the roads on a strike call given by the separatists, though some private vehicles could be seen plying in the city. The roads in the outskirts and other towns wore a deserted look.
Meanwhile, police said that two youths were injured today in clashes between protesters and government forces in Kangan area of Ganderbal district.
Mohammad Amir and Irfan Ahmad were brought to the SKIMS hospital in Soura with injuries to the head and the chest respectively, a police official said.
Another youth from Kangan, injured in similar clashes yesterday, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital here today.
Protests were also reported from many other areas of Kashmir.
Separatists — Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Mailk — had called for a strike for the second day while urging people to march to Shopian in south Kashmir tomorrow to express solidarity with families who lost their family members in the three encounters between militants and government on Sunday.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength at sensitive places across the Valley to thwart any untoward incident, the police official said.
While mobile Internet services were restored in the city last night, these services continue to remain suspended in south Kashmir districts.
