SRINAGAR: Shutdown is being observed in Kashmir valley over banning of socio religious organisation Jamat e Islami, tinkering with special status and against slapping of the Public Safety Act (PSA) on JKLF chairman Yasin Malik.
Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remained shut in the city and in other districts as well.
While public transport is off the roads, few private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in some areas of the city.
Reports of shutdown were received from other district headquarters of the Valley as well.
In order to thwart pro freedom rallies in old city Srinagar restrictions have been imposed in six police station areas.
Officials said the curbs under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) were imposed in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj, Safakadal and Maisuma police station areas of the city.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) — Thursday called for a strike on Friday against booking of the JKLF chairman and others under the PSA, the crackdown on separatists, ban on JeI and “attempts to tinker with hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35-A and intimidating raids of the NIA against Kashmiris”.
“Arbitrary arrest and detention of senior resistance leader and chairman JKLF and many others under the draconian PSA and shifting of Malik to Kot Balwal jail in Jammu is the most condemnable act.
“This spree of arrests, ban on JeI and attempts to tinker with hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35-A and intimidating NIA raids on Kashmiris deserves our stiff protest and resistance and people of Kashmir, besides holding peaceful protests after Friday prayers, will also observe a complete shutdown tomorrow on 8th March 2019,” the JRL said in a statement.
The JRL comprises of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Malik.
