Separatists call for shutdown in J&K, affecting normal life

Shutdown has been called protesting against crackdown on JNU students and the arrest of former DU professor SAR Geelani

A general shutdown on Saturday called by separatists protesting against crackdown on JNU students and the arrest of former DU professor SAR Geelani affected normal life in the valley.

Shops, public transport and other businesses remained closed here and in other major cities and towns of the Valley.

Inter-district transport also remained suspended.

The shutdown has been called by the separatists to show their support for students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who faced police action for commemorating the death of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, as well as the arrest of SAR Geelani on the charge of taking part in anti-national activities.

Attendance in banks, post offices and government offices was thin due to non-availability of public transport in Srinagar and other district headquarters.

All PG entrance exams scheduled on Saturday have been postponed by Kashmir University.

The railway authorities have suspended services between north Kashmir Baramulla town and Bannihal town of Jammu region because of the law and order situation.

Although deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been made in sufficient strength at sensitive places in Srinagar and other cities and towns, authorities did not impose restrictions anywhere in Srinagar on public and vehicular movement.