Srinagar: Educational institutes and
government offices in Kashmir remained open on Wednesday inspite of
the strike call given by hardline faction of Hurriyat
Conference, even as security forces were deployed in sensitive
areas to maintain law and order.
Shops and business establishments in the main markets in
Srinagar and other major towns of the valley remained closed
and public transport went off the roads in response to the
strike.
However, educational institutions including private
schools ignored the strike and witnessed near total
attendance.
Work in government and semi-government offices, banks and
courts was also conducted smoothly but most of the private
offices remained closed, official sources said.
Barring a stone-pelting incident in uptown Srinagar, the
law and order situation in the valley remained peaceful.
A small group of youth pelted stones on the passing
vehicles at Natipora but they were chased away by police who
alongwith CRPF personnel were deployed in strength in the
area, the sources said, adding, nobody was hurt.
"There was no report of any other untoward incident
reported from anywhere so far," they said.
Kashmir valley has been in the grip of long spells of
shutdowns and curfews after protests over the killing of a
teenager in Srinagar on June 11 spilled over to other
districts of the valley.
Hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which
spearheads the agitation in the valley, had given a call for
shutdown today as part of its weekly protest calendar to press
for withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir.
PTI
