Curfew cripples Srinagar, shutdown halts rest of Kashmir

SRINAGAR - Curfew continued for the second consecutive day in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital while restrictions were imposed in some towns in the valley Wednesday, when hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for a shutdown.

“Curfew continues in Srinagar city while restrictions have been placed in south Kashmir Anantnag and Bijbehara towns. Restrictions have also been imposed in north Kashmir’s Kangan town,” a police official said here.

The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Geelani has called for a protest shutdown across the Kashmir Valley and asked people to resume normal life for three days beginning Thursday for Eid festivities.

Geelani has also appealed for an austere Eid this year because of the deaths of 69 civilians killed in clashes with the security forces since June 11, when the present unrest started.

Geelani has been continuing his Quit Kashmir campaign. As part of the resistance programme, his group has been issuing protest calendars almost on weekly basis for the last three months.

Shops, educational institutions, banks, post offices, public and private transport remained shut in Srinagar city because of the curfew imposed by the authorities. In other places, the shutdown marred normal life.

Four people were killed and 15 sustained gunshot injuries in north Kashmir Palhalan village on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, 35 km from here, Monday when security forces intervened to remove the protester blockade on the highway.

The incident led to a heightening of tensions, and dampened the enthusiasm for Eid.

“Eid is a great occasion for spreading the message of brotherhood and joy, but how does one approach a neighbour with greetings who has lost his only son in the present unrest?” said a bitter Muzaffar Ahmad, a college teacher here.