Strike evokes mixed response in Kashmir valley

SRINAGAR: The general strike called by separatists to protest the landing of army troops in Kashmir this day in 1947 to repulse the invasion by Pakistan-backed tribal raiders evoked a mixed response.

Most of the shops and other business like petrol pumps and private offices remained closed in the city and major towns of the valley.

However, there was no impact on the weekly flea market in the heart of the city here, officials said.

Most of the public transport was off the roads, while private cars, auto-rickshaws and cabs plied normally, they said.

While schools and colleges remain off on Sundays, some educational institutions remained open on account of the annual examinations.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani today called for a general strike to protest against landing of Army in Kashmir on October 27, 1947.

It was on this day in 1947 that independent India's army undertook its first military operation in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the then Maharaja of J&K Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession with the Union of India, to repulse tribal raiders from Pakistan from the region.

The strike call was also given by moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and other separatist groups including JKLF and Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.

The separatist outfits have been calling for a strike on this day every year since eruption of militancy in the State in 1989.