Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 21: The strike called by hardline Hurriyat Conference in protest against the killing of five persons in CRPF firing in Shopian disrupted normal life in Kashmir Valley today while curfew continued for the 10th consecutive day.
Shops, offices, business establishments, educational institutions and petrol pumps were shut and public transport was off the roads on a call given by Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani. However, private cars, cabs and auto rickshaws were seen plying in the city and elsewhere.
Thousands of students, however, sat in the Service Selection Board Examinations across Kashmir valley today and the candidates had to face tough time in absence of the transport facility.
Police and CRPF were deployed in strength in the city and major towns to prevent clashes.
Most of the separatist leaders including Geelani, chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik continued to be under house arrest.
The separatists were placed under house arrest yesterday ahead of their proposed march towards Shopian town.
Five persons, including four civilians, were killed in CRPF firing in Shopian. While four of them died in the retaliatory fire by the paramilitary forces after their camp at Gagran came under militant attack on September 7, another person was killed in the firing on September 11, when the forces opened fire following clashes between them and protestors who were demanding removal of the camp.
Meanwhile, curfew continued for the 10th consecutive day today in Shopian after the restrictions were re-imposed on September 12 following the killing a day earlier.
Curfew was first clamped in Shopian on September 8, following wide-spread clashes after the killing of four persons in CRPF firing a day earlier.
The prohibitory orders were then lifted on September 11, but were re-imposed in the town next day following clashes and the killing.
Curfew was relaxed in the town from 4:30 p.m. today.
The Civil Society, traders and transporters of Shopian held a meeting this evening in Shopian and called for indefinite strike in the town over the killings of 5 youth.
They demanded registration of FIR against CRPF, shifting of the camp from Gagran saying that it is not safe for the general public and exgratia relief for the dead.
There were stone pelting incidents in Baramulla, Bandipora and several parts of Srinagar. Protesters pelted stones at police and CRPF, who charged batons and fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.
Army also fired in air at Bandipora when their vehicles came under attack from stone pelters and beat up several people in retaliation.
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