Kashmir shuts down to protest human rights abuses

A complete shutdown and protests crippled life across Kashmir Valley on Thursday even as authorities lifted all restrictions in the region.

Early Thursday morning, people in various localities of Srinagar poured out onto the streets staging protests against alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.

Mobs also indulged in stone pelting in some localities of the old city and uptown areas leading to clashes between security forces and the protestors.

The mobs also pelted stones at passing vehicles, smashing many of them in

the city resulting in withdrawal of the private transport, which had started plying on the roads on Thursday morning.

Reports from other towns said people have been holding protests and sit-ins there as well.

Authorities completely lifted curfew-like-restrictions imposed in old city areas on Wednesday.

The hard-line All Parties Hurriyat Conference's call for shutdown evoked a near total response shutting markets, public transport, government offices and educational institutions and banks.

The strike is also complete in other towns as well.