NEWS

Srinagar shuts down in protest

By Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar
August 09, 2008

Srinagar observed a sudden shutdown on Friday after the health of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik, who is on an indefinite fast, got deteriorated.
 
Even though there was no shutdown call and separatist groups had asked for resumption of the normal business and social activity, yet parts of capital city shut itself down to continue the protests for the sixth day.
 
Almost all the separatist leaders had asked the people not to observe shut downs without any call. However, people did not heed to it.
 
Clashes erupted yet again in the city centre Lal Chowk, where protestors shouting pro-freedom slogans.
 
Police responded with tear smoke shells and repeated baton charges, chasing the protestors, who continued to re-group and stone the police.
 
Areas of old city were also rocked by police- protestor clashes.
 
The southern town of Anantnag was tense this morning, following alleged beating of civilians by the paramilitary last evening.
 
Movement in the town was restricted as security forces enforced restrictions to obviate eruption of protests. The town observed a complete shut down.
 
Ganderbal district which is located on either side of the Srinagar Baltel Cave Shrine route in north also witnessed protests and clashes between police and slogan shouting mobs against continued harassment of minority community members in parts of Jammu.
 
Condition of Yasin Malik who was admitted to Soura Medical Institute kept on deteriorating, causing grave concern and anxiety to his supporters.
 
Despite repeated attempts by doctors to feed him, Malik has staunchly refused to take any food.
 
Meanwhile, both groups of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have decided to march with the Kashmir fruit growers to Muzaffarabad on Monday.
 
The fruit growers association has announced that they would cross the Line of Control (LoC) Monday for carriage of their fruit to Muzaffarabad from where they intend to carry their produce to Amritsar in the Punjab.

 

Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar

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