Normal life paralysed in J&K's Pulwama district due to strike

SRINAGAR: Normal life was crippled in most parts of south Kashmir's Pulwama district following a strike call given by the Hurriyat Conference to protest the killing of youth allegedly in BSF firing.

Shops, business establishments, offices and educational institutions in most parts of the district were shut in response to the strike call, officials said.

Public transport was also off the roads, they added.

However, the officials said, traffic plied on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway which passes through the strike-hit areas of Pampore and Awantipora.

Hardline Hurriyat called for a general strike in the district following the killing of 23-year-old Bilal Ahmad Bhat allegedly in BSF firing yesterday.

Bhat, a resident of Padgampora village, was hit by a bullet when BSF personnel allegedly opened fire to chase away youths pelting stones in protest against the killing of two local Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants near Ratnipora area of Pulwama.

Bhat was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by doctors.