Hurriyat strike call hits normal life in Kashmir

Chairman of the hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani addresses a press conference at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar on Saturday.

After witnessing the first week of complete normalcy in more than five months, normal life was again disrupted in Kashmir Valley on Saturday due to a one-day strike call given by the hardline Hurriyat Conference.

Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in large numbers across the city to thwart any untoward incident, officials said.

In volatile and sensitive parts of the city, armoured vehicles were seen parked on roadside to meet any eventuality.

Despite tight security arrangements, a group of agitators pelted stones at a school bus, injuring two teachers and damaging the vehicle, at Zaldagar in Maharajgunj area of old city, the officials said.

In Srinagar city, most of the shops and other commercial outlets remained closed with people preferring to remain indoors. However, some private cars and small passenger vehicles plied on the roads.

The Valley witnessed a spell of normalcy during the past week after the hardline Hurriyat faction, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, suspended the shutdowns ahead of Eid-ul-Azha festival.