Srinagar, Jul 2: Normal life remained affected for the second day today due to strike, this time called by separatist in protest against the killing of two civilians and as many Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an encounter in Anantnag yesterday.
However, famous Sunday market remained unaffected as hundreds of vendors have put up stalls in this summer capital.
Shop and business establishments, which are functional on Sundays, remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Kashmir valley, including restriction free areas of Srinagar, due to strike called by separatists against the Anantnag killings.
Restrictions under section 144 CrPc have been imposed within the areas falling under seven police stations of Srinagar district, including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj, Rainawari in downtown and Kralkhud in the old town, Maisuma in civil lines, besides Anantnag district.
The restrictions were imposed after both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the agitation, ‘demanding right to self determination’, called for a strike.
Two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including Bashir Lashkeri, involved in the killing of five police personnel, including SHO Feroz Ahmad Dar, last month in Anantnag, were killed in an encounter yesterday. Two civilians, including a woman, also died in the incident.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected for the second successive day today in Kashmir valley, where business activities were crippled yesterday when Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) had called for a strike against proposed implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the state.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road in civil lines and uptown Srinagar today though few private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, besides some cabs, could be seen plying on some routes in restriction-free areas.
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.
The 3-km-long weekly Sunday market witnessed good number of customers, purchasing items, including cloths, from vendors, who have set up their stalls from Radio Kashmir (RK), Srinagar, crossing to Hari Singh High Streets (HSHS), including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city.
Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in Anantnag today prevent any protests against the killings.
Hundreds of security forces and state police personnel were deployed in restriction free areas in major towns and tehsil headquarters to stop protests against the killing of the civilians and militants yesterday, said a report from south Kashmir, where shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in support of the strike. Security has also been stepped up along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway to prevent any protests.
A report from Baramulla said life was 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. Additional security forces have been deployed in entire north Kashmir to prevent any law and order problem.
Life also continued to remain crippled in central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in support of the strike called by separatists. (UNI)
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