Strike hits life in Kashmir; curfew continues in Baramulla

Srinagar, June 30 (PTI) Life across Kashmir valley
remained crippled Tuesday due to a separatist-sponsored
strike, while curfew imposed in Baramulla after two youths
were killed in police firing was extended to Sopore town as a
precautionary measure.

Markets, educational institutions, banks, courts and
other semi-government institutions remained closed and
transport was off the roads across the valley in response to
the three-day strike called by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed
Ali Shah geelani against the killing of two youths in
Baramulla and alleged use of force against demonstrators in
Shopian.

Attendance in government offices, barring civil
secretariat, was thin in absence of transport, officials said,
adding employees of the secretariat were ferried in
security-guarded vehicles.

They said police and paramilitary personnel are
patrolling the deserted streets to maintain law and order in
the city and elsewhere in the valley.

Meanwhile, curfew continued without relaxation in
Baramulla town of North Kashmir for the second successive day.

The curfew was promulgated yesterday after two youths
were killed and scores others injured in police firing on
protesters demanding action against policemen who had
allegedly misbehaved with a woman on June 28.

As a precautionary measure, Sopore town of Baramulla
district was also brought under curfew this morning as the
situation in the town was tense,officials said.

Geelani-led Hurriyat decided to call for a complete
strike for three days beginning today at its meeting Monday.

Earlier the amalgam had announced that it will endorse
the programme by Majlis-e-Mushawarat, which is spearheading an
agitation in Shopian, alongside moderate Hurriyat Conference
and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Hardline Hurriyat leaders also rejected the probe ordered
by the authorities in Shopian murder and rape case as an
attempt to conceal facts and protect the culprits.

"We have never and will not endorse any probe by
commission of inquiries as such committees are being initiated
to shield the culprits only. What can we expect from the probe
when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already given a clean
chit to perpeators"? Who will be punished by the commission
can be gauged from the fact that doctors have been placed
under suspension for speaking the truth", the spokesman said.

The moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq
also condemned the use of force in Shopian and Baramulla. PTI