Dozens of protestors were detained near Clock Tower in Lal Chowk as they attempted for a protest march . The police charged the demonstrators and used force to disperse them before detaining many among them.
A year after devastating floods from River Jhelum pierced Kashmir Valley causing massive devastation across the state, people are observing a complete shutdown on Monday against what they term as 'absolute failure' of the government in the process of rehabilitation of flood victims.
Dozens of protestors were detained near Clock Tower in Lal Chowk as they attempted for a protest march . The police charged the demonstrators and used force to disperse them before detaining many among them.
The shops and other business establishments, schools, colleges, offices and transport services have also remained shut owing to strike call given by traders body Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), which has planned a protest demonstration in Lal Chowk.
The traders in the valley decided to commemorate the first anniversary of September 2014 floods as 'Jashn-e-barbadi' or 'carnival of destruction' following which they called for the shutdown.
The strike call was endorsed by other trader associations, both factions of Hurriyat, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Kashmir Bar Association and Private School Association.
The traders body accused the BJP-PDP run state government as well as the central government for failing to rehabilitate the flood victims despite assurances and instead used the victims' situation to gain political mileage.
As traders declined the venue offered by police for demonstration, the police have beefed up security in and around Lal Chowk in view of the protest .
The former NC-Congress run government had asked the centre to assist the state with Rs 44000 crore package, which the central government denied stating reasons that it was not prepared with 'groundwork'.
Soon after the state was hit by floods, PM Narendra Modi announced Rs 1100 crore as immediate disaster relief followed by Rs 745 Crore announced in October. The centre further announced a relief package worth Rs 1667 crores earlier this year in June. From the package, however, Rs 500 crore were deducted as a bill for relief and rescue operations undertaken by Army and Air Force during the floods.
The traders in the state later expressed 'deep shock and disappointment' on billing of relief and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, JKLF Cheif Yasin Malik, Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani, who were supposed to join the traders protest in Lal Chowk have been placed under house arrest. Police sources confirm that the area where Malik resides, which is also close to the venue, has been put under siege in order 'to stop him from joining the protest which can escalate into law and order situation.
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