Srinagar shutdown paralyses normal life - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

A shutdown call given by the separatist Hurriyat Conference against Chinkipora Sopore incident paralysed normal life in Srinagar, as the streets wore a deserted look on the day of Holi festival. Public transport remained off the roads, shops and other business establishments were closed and people largely stayed at their homes. The security personnel staged a flag march to avoid any untoward incident. The authorities have clamped curfew in downtown areas of the city to prevent protest march by the separatists. Feroz Ahmad, a resident of the city said, "The Hurriyat Conference has given the call (for shutdown) against the Sopore incident in which people's house have been destroyed and they have been rendered homeless in motor shelling by the army." "Today, Kashmir is observing shutdown and we are supporting the shutdown," he claimed. Police and Para-Military forces have been deployed in large number to maintain law and order. Syed Ali Geelani led faction of the outfit gave the appeal of shutdown. At least 17 houses were completely destroyed and 15 partially damaged at Chinkipora Sopore in army action following a gunfight with militants that left four troopers including a Captain and two militants dead. The devastation rendered over 100 people homeless.