Srinagar, July 01: Life remained crippled for the second day today’s due to a three-day strike called by the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) in the Kashmir valley.
The HC had appealed to people to observe a complete strike from yesterday, for three days, to protest the killing of two youth in a security force firing on peaceful demonstrators at Baramulla, the government’s failure to arrest those involved in the Shopian incident of rape and murder of two women, and other alleged human rights violations in the valley.
Shops and business establishments in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, remained closed and traffic was off the roads.
However, some private vehicles could be seen plying in the civil lines and uptown areas.
It was again a field day for three wheeler drivers, who charged on extra from the passengers.
It was a tough time for people including women, who had to walk and cover long distances to reach their destinations in the absence of transport service. The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) had also suspended their services, fearing stone pelting.
A minor incident of stone pelting was reported from Natipora area of the uptown, where a group of pro-freedom demonstrators had clashed with CRPF.
Work in government and semi-government offices, banks and undertakings was also affected due to the strike.
The educational institutions wore a deserted look as teaching staff and students stayed away in response to the call.
However, students from different educational institutions had to return to their homes after their schools remained closed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education announced that the ninth and eleventh class examinations would be held despite the strike and curfew.
In case any candidate failed to appear in the examination, he or she would be allowed to appear in the missed papers later, it added.
However, examinations in Baramulla and Sopore were postponed due to curfew restrictions.
A report from Anantnag said life remained paralysed in this and other major towns of south Kashmir for the second day today due to the strike. The authorities had announced imposition of restrictions under Section 144 in the town to thwart any demonstrations.
In Baramulla, where curfew was imposed for the past two days after four youth were killed in the security force firing, a complete shutdown had been observed in other towns of north Kashmir.
–Agencies