Strike hits life in Kashmir

Normal life was paralysed across Kashmir today in view of a general strike in support of the demand for the return of the bodies of Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Butt.
The strike was called by Mutahida-Majlis-Mushawarat (MMM).Shops and other business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. The government offices either remained closed or registered a thin attendance of the employees. Transport was also off the roads. However, some private vehicles, few auto rickshaws and passenger buses were seen moving in some areas.
Heavy deployment of police and para-military forces was made in sensitive areas of the city to thwart any attempt by people to hold protest demonstration. The roads and markets wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors.
Demonstrations were held at Bokrikadal in old city of Srinagar. Some youth also resorted to stone pelting. Police said a doctor, Faheem, who was traveling on a scooter, was injured in the stone pelting.
Reports of protests and stone pelting were also reported from Batamaloo areas. The police chased the protesters and after that the situation remained normal.
People in Bijbehara held demonstration and staged a dharna at Sringar-Jammu national highway against the arrests there. The dharna disrupted the vehicular movement on the highway for some time. Later the authorities intervened and got the arrested persons released. The protesters dispersed peacefully.
Reports of general strike hitting the normal life were also received from other districts of the valley.