Srinagar, Mar 25: Normal life across much of Jammu and Kashmir was paralysed today by a bandh called to protest the massacre of 24 Kashmiri pandits in south Kashmir. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed and most vehicular traffic went off the roads in the valley, Jammu city and towns of Kathua and Udhampur in response to the separate calls given by ruling coalition partners, separatist Hurriyat Conference and employees joint action committee. The call given by Congress, Peoples Democtratic Party, Panthers Party, Peoples Democratic Forum, Bhartiya Janata Party, Jammu State Morcha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Hurriyat Conference evoked full response in Kashmir valley, Jammu city and towns of Kathua and Udhampur, official sources said.

Streets in Srinagar and major towns of the valley as also several areas in Jammu wore a deserted look with shops and markets closed and public transport off the road. However, some two-wheelers and government vehicles were plying.

While there was no report of any untoward incident in Kashmir valley, groups of youth owing allegiance to different parties were moving in different areas of Jammu city to enforce the bandh, the sources said.
Police and paramilitary troops were deployed in sensitive areas of the state to maintain law and order.

Bandh also gripped Udhampur and Kathua towns of Jammu division, reports reaching here said.


Bureau Report