PM Visit: Kashmir shuts down, internet suspended, hurriyat leaders caged

Picture: Jahangir Shah

Srinagar:Srinagar, Feb 3 (UNI) General strike crippled life in the Kashmir valley on Sunday, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit here to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of different development projects this afternoon.

The famous 3-km-long “ Sunday Market” from Radio Kashmir, Srinagar crossing to Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), including Gantaghar and Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, remained closed today

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in the summer capital, Srinagar, particularly in and around S K International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the bank of Dal Lake, where Prime Minister will meet students of different states, recently elected panchs and sarpanchs besides inaugurate and lay foundation stone of various projects.

The authorities have already suspended internet mobile and train services  in the valley, where Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik has called for strike today.

Most of the top hurriyat leaders have been either detained or kept under house arrest.

Shops and business establishments, which functions on Sundays also, remained closed in Srinagar and adjoining areas besides outskirts today. Streets wore a deserted look with only security forces deployed to keep a strict vigil. Transport was off the roads though few private vehicles could be seen plying on Moulana Azad and airport roads. Public transport, including three wheelers and cabs, remained off the roads. Even the tuition and coaching centres also remained closed in the city. Government offices and banks are closed on account of Sunday.

The Sunday market wore a deserted look as not a single vendor had put up their stalls. Hundreds of vendors, selling everything from a simple needle to carpets, are putting up their stalls on Sunday which attracts thousands of people from different parts of the valley.

Business and other activities remained paralysed in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in south Kashmir, a report from Anantnag said. Transport was off the roads, it said adding large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed to maintain and law and order.

Additional security forces have been deployed on the national highway, particularly at Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara and Khanabal to prevent stone pelting.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir, a report from Baramulla said. However, some private vehicles could be seen plying in the civil lines. Additional security forces remained deployed on the highway besides on all bridges over river Jehlum, connecting down town with civil lines.

Similar reports were also received from central Kashmir districts of Badgam and Ganderbal.

 

 

 

 

 

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