Shutdown call in valley brings life to standstill: Authorities impose restrictions in downtown,schools and colleges closed

Normal life here was affected due to a strike called by separatists in view of commemoration day of martyr’s at Eidgah. Authorities have imposed restrictions to prevent  the  separatist-called commemoration march today. Earlier, Hurriyat Conference had called for the march to the Martyrs Graveyard in the Old City’s Eidgah area to pay homage to two senior separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Moulana Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, who were killed by unidentified assailants on this day in 1990 and 2002.

While ,restrictions were imposed in parts of the city to maintain law and order. According to a police official, strict restrictions under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in areas falling under the territorial jurisdiction of Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, MR Gunj and Safa Kadal police stations.
Restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the strike called by separatists, he said.

Heavy contingents of state police and the CRPF have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Normal life was affected elsewhere in the city as most of the shops, business establishments and fuel stations were shut, while public transport was off the roads, according to reports.

However, private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in many areas of the city where there were no restrictions , similar reports were received from other district headquarters of the Valley.

Meanwhile, the authorities have ordered closure of all schools and colleges of Srinagar and Budgam district .

The decision to close the educational institutions has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of the  shutdown call given by the separatists, said an official.