Srinagar: Normal life was affected in Kashmir on Friday due to a strike called by separatists against the civilian killings in Pulwama district allegedly during a gunfight between militants and security forces on Thursday.
Top separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference were placed under house arrest as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the Valley, officials said.
While hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to be under house arrest, chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was confined to his home this morning.
Shops, business establishments, and educational institutions remained closed due to the strike called jointly by both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF, they said.
While most of the public and private transport remained off the roads, a few vehicles could be seen plying on some routes.
Though the separatist had given a strike call for today in their weekly protest calendar issued last week, they asked people to hold protests after Friday prayers against the death of two civilians allegedly during clashes between protesters and security forces near the encounter site at Padgampora in Awantipora area of Pulwama district yesterday.
Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers held for the two slain militants and the civilians in Pulwama.
Police assisted by paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength at sensitive areas of the city and other major towns of the Valley to maintain law and order.
