Shutdown, stone pelting as PM arrives in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh landed here on Friday afternoon with sporadic incidents of stone throwing by separatist groups in various towns and a shutdown across the valley marking his arrival.

Manmohan Singh was flown in a helicopter from Srinagar airport to a helipad adjacent to the Raj Bhavan, the state governor's residence.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet political leaders at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of the Dal Lake to take stock of the situation, as polls are due in the state later this year.

The separatist Hurriyat Conference has called for a shutdown in the Kashmir valley during the visit of the prime minister, from Friday afternoon and all of Saturday.

Police officials said there were sporadic incidents of stone throwing at security personnel at this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday afternoon and in other towns across the valley.

Manmohan Singh, who inaugurated the 900 MW Baglihar project in Jammu Friday morning, is scheduled to flag off the first ever train service in the Kashmir valley on Saturday.