Normal life remains crippled for 2nd day due to strike, restrictions in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 3: Normal life remained crippled for the second successive day on Tuesday as shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads due to a strike called by separatists and restrictions imposed by authorities in Kashmir valley.

Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, on Monday extended the strike till Tuesday against the killing of four civilians in security force action and 13 militants in three separate encounters in south Kashmir on Sunday.
Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions remained imposed for the second day on Tuesday within the areas falling under police stations of Srinagar district, including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj, Rainawari in downtown and in some areas in Kralkhud in the old town, Maisuma in civil lines to maintain law and order. 
Restrictions also remained imposed since early Monday morning in Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama while all the exit and entry points of Shopian were sealed by security forces to stop protests in view of ‘Shopian challo’ call given by separatists on Wednesday. Similar, restrictions were also extended to Kangan in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal to prevent protests.
All educational institutions remained closed for the second day on Tuesday in Kashmir valley, where train service also remained suspended as a precautionary measure.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road in civil lines and uptown Srinagar though few private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes in restriction-free areas. 
Business and other activities remained 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.
Hundreds of security forces and state police personnel were deployed in major towns and tehsil headquarters in south Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Pulwama and Anantnag to enforce curfew-like restrictions and stop protests against the killing of civilians and militants on Sunday. People alleged that they remained confined to their houses since Monday morning in view of 'unofficial' restrictions imposed by the authorities. “Security forces have been make announcements through loudspeakers since early this morning, directing people to remain indoors,” Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Kulgam, told.
Meanwhile, all the exit and entry points of Shopian were sealed by security forces to foil ‘Shopian challo’ call given by separatists.
Curfew-like restrictions were also imposed to stop protests in Kangan, where a youth was on Monday critically injured during demonstrations against civilian killings in Shopian on Sunday.       Life also came to a grinding halt in central Kashmir district of Budgam in support of the strike called by separatists.
A report from Baramulla said life remained 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 for the second successive day on Tuesday. Additional security forces have been deployed in entire north Kashmir to prevent any law and order problem.   
Four civilians died in security force action and 13 militants and three Army jawans were killed in three separate encounters in south Kashmir on Sunday. Over 50 civilians were also injured in the clashes near the encounter sites. UNI