Separatist shutdown hits life in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Life across the Kashmir valley was affected on Saturday following a shutdown called here by the separatist coordination committee.

In Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar, business establishments, banks and educational institutions remained shut, while attendance in government offices was very thin owing to the non-availability of public transport here.

Skeletal traffic in the shape of some private cars and two-wheelers, however, plied on the city roads.

Reports reaching here from north Kashmir's Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts and south Kashmir's Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts indicated the separatist shutdown call had a near complete response there as well.

The shutdown call was given by the joint coordination committee of both the Hurriyat groups.

There have been no reports of violence from anywhere in the valley so far.

At least 34 people - 14 security personnel and 20 protesters - were injured in clashes between the two sides in the old city area of Nowhatta here on Friday.

One deputy commandant of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was among the injured as he was hit by a stone on his head.

The separatists have given a call for an elaborate one-month long 'resistance programme' till Oct 6, when they propose to hold a massive march to city centre Lal Chowk.