Srinagar, Nov 17: Even though it received only a partial response, the normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley Saturday due to a strike called by the separatists in protest against the conduct of the first phase of panchayat polls in the state.
While most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the some shops and roadside vendors in parts of the city, particularly in uptown areas and outskirts went about their business as usual.
Majority public transport was off the roads but private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were plying in many areas of the city.
Reports of shutdown were also received from other district headquarters of the Valley.
Government forces were deployed in strength in sensitive places across the Valley to maintain law and order, they said.
Separatist leaders, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), had asked people to observe strike to protest against the “election drama”.
The JRL, comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, have also asked people to observe shutdown in poll-bound areas of the Valley on the days of polling in the eight-phase panchayat elections.
