SRINAGAR, FEB 24 : Kashmir valley observed a complete shutdown on Sunday on Hurriyat call against the fresh arrest spree.
Reports said that authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas on Sunday to thwart any protest against the arrests of Jamaat and Hurriyat leaders on Friday night.
The shutdown was called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik ahead of hearing on Article 35-A.
All the shops, business establishments and petrol pumps were closed while as traffic was also off the roads throughout the day. The traffic movement also remained suspended.
News agency has posted that arrest of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Mohammad Fayaz and a dozens of Jamaat activists on Saturday trigerred clashes in several parts of Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir Valley. The arrests of Yasin Malik and Jamaat cadres evoked serious criticism and condemnation from both separatist and mainstream leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, PC chairman Sajad Gani Lone, PDF chairman Hakim Mohammad Yaseen, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and DPN president Ghulam Hassan Mir.
Inputs from KNS
