Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: Normal life across the Kashmir valley was affected today due to shutdown called by separatists to protest a court judgment on Asiya Andrabi’s husband, Dr Qasim Faktoo while police chased a group of stone pelters in old city and arrested 6 suspected youth.
The State High Court last week while disposing of a petition by Dr Qasim Faktoo, ruled that life imprisonment meant imprisonment for life. He had pleaded for his release since he had already completed 14 years in jail after being sentenced for life by a trial court.
The strike was called by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). They had asked people to protest against the verdict.
Shops were closed and public transport was off the roads in capital Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir valley. However, private vehicles and three-wheelers were plying in uptown Srinagar. Vehicles carrying tourists to Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam were plying normally.
Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in Srinagar and other towns to maintain law and order.
The strike also affected attendance in Government offices, while schools in Srinagar and other major towns were closed in response to the strike call.
A police spokesman said here today that the day passed off peacefully with private transport plying normally in Srinagar and other towns. “A minor incident of stone pelting was reported in Saraf Kadal, Srinagar where some miscreants pelted stones on police and passing vehicles. The miscreants were chased away by the police. No one was hurt”, spokesman added.
Six suspected stone pelters were arrested by Police from Saraf Kadal and they have been lodged at Police Station Mahraj Gunj.
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