Restrictions, shutdown hit life in Kashmir, situation peaceful

SRINAGAR - The overall law and order situation in Srinagar and other major towns of the Kashmir Valley remained peaceful Tuesday even as the official restrictions and a separatist shutdown threw life out of gear here.

An undeclared curfew was strictly enforced by the security forces in old city areas of Srinagar falling under Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal police stations.

In the uptown city areas, tension was reported in the Maisuma area while very little private transport was seen in the civil lines area of the city.

Markets, educational institutions and banks remained closed and public transport was off the roads in Srinagar. Attendance in government offices was low because of non-availability of public transport in the city and all other major towns of the Valley.

Meanwhile, senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani, who had called for a two-day shutdown ending Tuesday, has asked the people to resume normal activities from Wednesday.

Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik have been arrested by the authorities for what the officials here said had been “their provocative speeches inciting people to violence”.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday again reiterated his government’s resolve not to allow “a handful of miscreants to hold hostage normal life in Kashmir”.

He also asserted his resolve of zero tolerance against human rights violations, but added those inciting people to violence would be booked under the law.