Hurriyat's strike call affects normal life in valley

SRINAGAR: The strike call given by hardline Hurriyat Conference against the gunning down of three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, hit normal life in the valley today, even as sporadic clashes broke out between the protesters and law enforcing agencies.

A group of youth indulged in stone-pelting at several places in Bijbehara area in Anantnag district, thus forcing the authorities to divert traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway through Kulgam and also suspend rail services between Banihal and Srinagar as a precautionary measure, the officials said.

"The traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was going on smoothly. Due to law and order problems in the highway township of Bijbehara, the traffic was diverted through Kulgam," a traffic spokesman said.

The Railways announced suspension of rail traffic between Banihal to Srinagar as a precautionary measure.

"The rail traffic was suspended this morning on the directions of the police authorities due to law and order problem in Anantnag district," a railway official said.

The officials said that the protesters turned violent shortly after the burial of the three militants, all residents of Bijbehara - the home town of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The protesters pelted stones on the police and paramilitary personnel who retaliated by firing teargas shells and used batons to restore law and order.

According to reports, the protesters also threw stones at Sayeed's ancestral house in the town.

There was no report of any causality in the clashes, the officials said.

The three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces at a village in Ashmuqam area, 76 kms from here, in Anantnag district yesterday.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for a general strike to mourn the death of the militants.

The impact of the strike was felt much in the southern districts including Anantang. Although, it witnessed a partial response in Srinagar and other districts of the valley.

While most of the private schools were closed, shops and other business establishments were partially open in the main markets.

However, there was no hindrance in commuting as transports were plying normally, the officials said.

Security forces have been deployed in large number across the sensitive areas of the city and elsewhere to maintain law and order in view of the strike call, they added.