SRINAGAR: Normal life in Kashmir valley was affected on Monday due to a strike called by Hurriyat (G) Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani against detention of separatist leaders and youth campaigning for a boycott of Parliament elections.
Schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments remained closed in most parts of the valley while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike call. However, private vehicles were seen plying on the roads in most parts of Srinagar city.
A police official said that barring few minor stray incidents of stone-pelting life all across Kashmir Valley remained peaceful.
Reports said that stone-pelting incidents occurred at North Kashmirs Baramulla and Bandipora towns. Scores of youth took to streets in Bandipora and engaged government forces at Gulshan Chowk. The protestors were demanding the immediate release of the youth and separatist leaders that have been arrested in the town by police.
Similar incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Azad Gunj Baramulla and Sopore town.
Newsgathering agency GNS reported that in north Kashmirs Baramulla, the clashes amidst shutdown erupted at Azad Gunj and Cement Bridge between youth and government forces. The clashes continued several hours but no one was reported injured.
The clashes also erupted in Sopore town between youths and government forces which continued throughout the day. The volatile Palhallan hamlet also witnessed stone-pelting clashes.
In neighbouring Bandipora town, violent clashes erupted between youth and government at Gulshan Chowk. The clashes continued for nearly two hours.
In Kupwara town, the effect of the shutdown was less. Witnesses told GNS that most of the shops and other commercial establishments were open public and private transport was plying normally.
The south Kashmirs Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts also observed shutdown on the call of Geelani. In Muran chowk of Pulwama, angry youth pelted few stones in the morning to enforce shutdown.
The Anantnag district was partially shut with private and public transport plying normally.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said the situation remained normal throughout the valley. However, isolated minor stone pelting by some miscreants was reported from Gulshan Chowk Bandipora and Azad Gunj Baramulla, he said, adding no one was hurt till last reports came in.
Reports said that life was also affected in other parts of Kashmir Valley due to strike call.
Geelani had called for a strike to protest against the detention of separatist leaders and youth in Kashmir Valley. He has asked people to observe ‘civil curfew’ on polling days, Arpil 24 (south Kashmir), April 30 (central Kashmir) and May 7 (north Kashmir) in the valley.
A police official said that situation remained normal throughout the valley. However, isolated minor stone pelting by some miscreants was reported from Gulshan Chowk Bandipora and Azad Gunj Baramulla. However, no one was hurt, till reports last came in.
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