Imposed strike affects normal life in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Normal life was crippled in Kashmir valley on Wednesday due to a strike call given by hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference against the proposed visit to Pakistan of the moderate faction led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq later this week.

Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed across the valley. Traffic was thin on the roads in the suburbs of the city early in the morning.

However, a group of supporters of the hard-line Syed Ali Shah Geelani started enforcing the strike by pelting stones and chasing away public transport and private vehicles.

Windscreens of many vehicles were broken as they made hasty retreat. Attendance in government offices was poor due to non-availability of the transport facilities.

Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has also supported the call for strike given by Geelani.

Two days after Geelani called for strike, Mirwaiz's residence was attacked by unidentified militants on Monday by firing a rifle grenade.

Although the Hurriyat chairman was not at home at the time of the attack, the incident was seen as militant support to Geelani's stand on the dialogue process.