Separatists` shutdown affects life in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar: Life was affected here and in other parts of the Kashmir Valley Sunday due to a shutdown called by many separatist groups against the landing of the Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir this day in 1947.

Although government offices, educational institutions, banks, post offices and businesses remained closed because of a public holiday Sunday, the separatist shutdown affected the movement of public and private transport in the city and elsewhere in the valley. Very few private vehicles moved on the city roads, while public transport also remained off the roads. Muzafarrabad-based supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen guerrilla group, Syed Salahuddin has also supported the protest shutdown called by Kashmiri separatist leaders. After the erstwhile Dogra Maharaja, Hari Singh, signed the instrument of accession of the then independent princely state of Jammu and Kashmir with the union of India, Indian army sent its troops to drive away the tribal invaders from the state this day in 1947. Police and paramilitary central reserve police force (CRPF) have been deployed at sensitive places here and other parts of the Kashmir valley. Authorities placed many senior separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Muhammad Yasin Malik under house arrest in Srinagar city.