Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 5: A shutdown called by local trade bodies was observed in several areas of Old City here to protest the alleged ransacking by police yesterday while chasing stone-throwers in Jama Masjid area here.
The traders on Friday had alleged that police lobbed teargas shells inside their shops and ransacked the goods inside while chasing stone-throwers in Jama Masjid area. The traders of Old City had appealed their Srinagar counterparts to observe shutdown today, which however evoked limited response.
The shops in Nowhatta, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal and Bhori Kadal areas were closed. However, the other markets of Old City as well as Civil Lines including Lal Chowk were open throughout the day. The traffic was plying smoothly across the city and there was no bearing on normal life.
The traders of Jama Masjid, meanwhile, assembled in Nowhatta Chowk this morning and staged peaceful sit-in against the alleged atrocities. The traders demanded an end to what they called “unnecessary and brute use of force” against them on Friday on the pretext of chasing stone-throwers.
The trade community was joined by separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik. Malik, along with his associates, joined the traders’ sit-in and expressed solidarity with them. He condemned the alleged police action against traders and local residents. Meanwhile, the situation across city remained peaceful today and there was no report of violence from any part.
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