Separatist shutdown partially affects Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR - Separatists called for a shutdown in the Kashmir Valley Saturday but barring the main markets in Srinagar, which remained closed, banks, government offices and educational institutions functioned normally in the city.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for a Valley wide shutdown as part of his group’s ‘Quit Kashmir’ campaign.

But the shutdown call did not evoke much response and educational institutions, banks, post offices and government offices were open in Srinagar while private and even some public transport plied normally.

However, the main markets in uptown and Old City areas remained closed and light traffic was seen on the roads there.

Reports from other towns of the valley also indicated that life was partially affected there.

Public response to the separatist-called protests and shutdowns has been on the decline for the last one month and this has prompted Geelani to issue less harsh protest calendars.

In his latest weekly protest calendar issued Friday evening, Geelani has called for just one day of a protest shutdown Dec 4. This is a significant departure from the earlier protest calendars issued by Geelani in which just a day or two would be marked for normalcy.

Since June 11 this year, the separatists have been spearheading protests and shutdowns and 110 people have lost their lives in clashes between protesters and security forces.