Complete shutdown in Kashmir on India's Independence Day

Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Friday, as India celebrated its 68th Independence Day with flourish, patriotic zeal and national enthusiasm.

Shops remained closed and the traffic was off the roads. People preferred to stay inside their homes due to the shutdown and restrictions in some of the areas in Kashmir valley. Both separatist factions of the Hurriyat conference and the Jihad Council called for a shutdown across the valley.

The roads were empty and only security personnel were seen patrolling the areas in Srinagar. Tight security measures were in place on the occasion.

A local resident, Noor Muhammad, said, "It's a strike, all the shops are closed, transport is also not working today." However no untoward incident was reported.

The state is one of the world's most militarised zones, with India deploying more than 1.3 million troops to quell the rebellion that triggered off in 1989. The two nuclear-armed countries have fought two wars over Kashmir but had sought to ease access and commerce in a region at the heart of more than 60 years of hostility.

Militancy in the area over the past years had significantly affected state tourism, but the industry is gradually picking up.