Kashmir shuts on JRL’s call against Rajnath’s 4-day visit

Srinagar: Life came to a grinding halt as shop and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads due to a strike called by separatists in Kashmir valley against Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to the state.
Singh, who arrived here yesterday, is on a four-day visit to the state – two each in Jammu region and Kashmir valley.
However, vendors have put up stalls at famous Sunday market in this summer capital though the number of customers was very less.
Official sources told UNI that curfew-like restrictions continued for the third day today in areas falling under five police stations in Srinagar, including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj and Rainawari.
Meanwhile, restriction under section 144 CrPc have been imposed in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, where Mr Singh addressed J&K police personnel at District Police Line (DPL) Anantnag and CRPF jawans at Khannabal today.
Shops and business establishments, which remain open on Sundays, were closed and traffic was off the road in civil lines and uptown Srinagar. However, few private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in the city.
Main business hubs of the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve-centre of summer capital, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Moulana Azad Road, Residency Road and Dalgate were shut with only security forces deployed in strength, keeping a close vigil.
The 3-km-long weekly Sunday market from Radio Kashmir (RK), Srinagar, crossing to HSHS, including historic Lal Chowk, which attracts thousands of buyers from different parts of the valley, witnessed very less number of customers due to restrictions and strike.
Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets in many sensitive areas in the city and outskirts to prevent any untoward incident.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the agitation, have called for general strike against the visit of Mr Singh.
Meanwhile, unprecedented security arrangements had been made for the visit of Mr Singh today to south Kashmir, where a policeman was killed and another was injured in a militant attack last evening despite high alert.
Security forces and state police personnel have been deployed in strength on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, particularly between Pampore to Anantnag to prevent any demonstration or stone pelting today, when there is a strike call by separatists.
Authorities had imposed restrictions in Anantnag to foil any attempt by miscreants to disturb peace. However, shops and business establishments in other main towns and tehsil headquarters in Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama remained closed.
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 in support of the strike. Additional security forces have been deployed in entire north Kashmir to prevent any law and order problem.
Life also continued to remain crippled in central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in support of the strike called by separatists.