Normal life paralysed by strike

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 9/8/2013 2:54:02 AM

SRINAGAR, Sep 7: At least a dozen persons were injured when police and para-military forces resorted to firing in the air, lathi-charge and used water canons to disperse slogan shouting crowds in different parts of the winter capital city as normal life was paralysed today across Kashmir Valley in response Hurriyat Conference (G) sponsored general strike against the Zubin Mehta concert.
One person was injured when CRPF men opened fire on his vehicle Maruti Wagon-R on Budshah Bridge here this evening. He has been identified as Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh of Machuwa in Chadoora. He was injured as bullet hit him in his leg. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The reason behind the firing incident could not be ascertained. Police said that investigation was going on.
Eye-witnesses said that the CRPF men opened fire when the private vehicles hit a government vehicle while protest demonstration was being held after the arrest of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik.
According to official reports some groups of people clashed with CRPF men and police n Baba Demb area of Srinagar city after they were stopped from proceeding towards Sher-i-Kashmir Park to attend the Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir concert organized by civil society members of Kashmir as parallel programme against Zubin Mehta’s Ehsaas-e-Kashmir organized by the German Embassy at Shalimar Gardens this evening.
The youth started pelting stones on the CRPF vehicles when they were stopped n Baba Demb locality. The CRPF resorted to firing in the air to disperse the angry youth. Some of the stone-pelting youth were reported to have been injured in the clashes.
Police resorted to lathi-charge and used water canons to disperse the slogan-shouting crowd of people heading from Sher-i-Kashmir Park to Polo View. After the conclusion of Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir event which was held at the park today, large group of people marched toward Polo View shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. No injuries were reported.
Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, a parallel event to Zubin Mehta concert, was a cultural and aesthetic tribute to the resilience and struggle of people of Kashmir
Curfew like situation prevailed in famous Boulevard Road and other parts of Srinagar wore a deserted look from Dalgate to Shalimar Gardens. Barricades were put up at different entry points and security checking was intensified. Vehicles were being stopped all over the capital city since this morning and groups of people were stopped at various places from proceeding towards Sher-i-Kashmir Park.
Shops and private business establishments, government offices and educational institutions remained closed while transport was off the road. Large contingents of police and para-military troopers were deployed in Srinagar City.
Reports said people were directed to stay indoors in Shalimar and its adjacent areas. Tourists faced a lot of inconvenience in the wake of restrictions and heavy presence of police and CRPF personnel. The traffic police had issued an advisory asking people to reach their houses and other destinations by 1.00 PM in areas lying close to Boulevard Road that connects Srinagar city with Mughal Gardens located on the banks of Dal Lake.
Reports said that complete shutdown was also observed in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Sopore, Pattan, Kupwara, Sumbal and Bandipora towns. Life came to stand still in South and Central Kashmir as well. Shops and business establishments remained shut in Pulwama, Shopian, Tral, Anantnag, Kulgam Verinag, Ganderbal, Kangan and Budgam towns.
The attendance in government offices and banks was thin due to strike call and absence of transport services. Majority of the schools in capital also remained closed.
Public transport is off roads while skeletal private transport was seen plying on the streets.

 

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