Strike cripples life in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 27: Normal life was on Friday crippled as shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in the valley due to a strike called by separatists. Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions were imposed since early this morning as a precautionary measure in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of police stations-- MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and Rainawari in the Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and downtown, besides Kralkhud in the old city and Maisuma. Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in the restriction free areas in civil lines and uptown Srinagar. However, some private vehicles, besides three-wheelers and cabs, could be seen plying on some routes in restriction-free areas. Business and other activities were crippled in 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. Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets in restriction-free areas to prevent any untoward incident in the city and outskirts. Work in government offices and banks was also affected due to the strike in Kashmir, where educational institutes wore a deserted look as students preferred to stay indoors. Train service in the valley has also been suspended for security reasons. Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had called for strike on Friday as on this day in 1947 Indian troops landed in Kashmir valley after signing of instrument of accession between Mahara Hari Singh and Government of India (GoI) when Pakistani tribes entered Jammu and Kashmir. “70th Infantry day, on this day in 1947, 1st SIKH REGT landed in Srinagar to evict Pak intruders from Kashmir & reversed the tide of battle,” the Northern Command of Indian Army wrote on micro-blogging site twitter. UNI