Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 21: Kashmir Valley today observed shutdown in response to the strike called by Hurriyat Conference (G) to protest against the latest arrest of separatist leaders and youth campaigning for boycott of the ongoing Parliamentary elections.
Educational institutes, business establishments, shops remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar and other districts. However, some private vehicles were playing on the roads throughout day in the city centre Lal Chowk.
Police and CRPF forces have been deployed in huge numbers in parts of Downtown to ward off any untoward incident.
A police spokesman said that situation remained normal throughout the Valley. “Isolated minor stone pelting by some miscreants was reported from Gulshan Chowk Bandipora and Azad Gunj Baramulla,” the spokesman said.
Stone pelting took place in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district when scores of youth came on roads and started protesting in support of Hurriyat call.
Police chased and used tear smoke shells against the protesting youth and detained many among them.
Similarly, heavy stone pelting was reported in Bandipora where amid complete shutdown youth came on roads and threw stones at police and CRPF personal.
Minor stone pelting also erupted between youth and forces in Maisuma area of Srinagar.
Hurriyat Conference, Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has also been put under house arrest since his return from New Delhi last week, has called for strike on all poll days starting from April 24th in the Valley.
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