Srinagar: Life in most parts of Kashmir on Sunday was affected in view of the government imposed curbs coupled with a complete shutdown called by joint resistance leadership against the visit of Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the Valley.
Singh arrived on 4-day visit on weekend with “open mind” and “ready to meet anyone who wishes to interact with him as the government wants resolution of all the problems.”
During his four-day visit Singh will visit south Kashmir’s Anantnag today followed by visit to Jammu and Rajouri in next two days. On first day of his visit, Rajnath met 35 delegations comprising various social, trade, travel and business organizations from Kashmir Valley, an official spokesman said.
Reports said that all shops, private offices, most petrol pumps, business establishments are closed.L.
Public and private transport was also off on all the major roads and highways across the Valley.
Hundreds of paramilitary CRPF troops and policemen armed with sophisticated weapons and riot gear guarded the deserted streets, lanes and by lanes in Old Srinagar where restrictions under section 144 CrPC, banning assembly of more than four persons at a time, within the jurisdiction of six police stations remained in force on third consecutive day.
According to the District Magistrate Srinagar, restrictions are in place in jurisdictional areas of police stations of Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal, and Maisuma “as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident.”
The Joint Resistance Camp comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik has called for a shutdown in Kashmir Valley against the visit of Rajnath Singh.
“By observing the strike, people of Kashmir will prove to the world community and the Indian leadership that by using military might against the people or harassing the leadership, genuine and people’s movement in Kashmir cannot be crushed,” the joint leadership had said.
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