Life across Kashmir valley was badly affected on Friday by a protest shutdown called by hard-line separatist leader and All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The strike had been called to protest against the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
Although authorities didn't impose any restrictions in the old city, security across Srinagar has been beefed up to maintain law and order.
Commercial establishments, educational institutions and banks remained shut while attendance in state government offices was minimal because of non-availability of public transport.
The state government had on Thursday evening issued instructions to the heads of departments to ensure attendance in government offices.
Geelani has already been arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act while chairman of the moderate faction of the APHC Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq continues to remain under house arrest.
The police has detained over 40 activists of the two groups of the APHC. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik has been lodged in the central jail in Srinagar along with dozens of activists.
According to reports from other towns, the strike call had affected normal life as it evoked a near total response.
© 2024 Rediff.com -