SRINAGAR, July 22: Shops and schools closed in Srinagar on Saturday in a strike called by a Hurriyat leader to condemn Israeli strikes against Lebanon.

Few employees showed up for work at government and private offices in Srinagar.

Syed Ali Geelani, who heads the hardline wing of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, said he called the one-day strike “to protest Israel’s naked aggression against Lebanon.”

“As human beings we should protest at what is happening in Lebanon. Those who are silent are criminals,” said the 75-year-old Kashmiri leader.

The strike also shut schools and other educational institutions in Srinagar and other major Muslim-majority towns of Indian Kashmir. Some other areas were also hit by the strike call but it had no impact in Hindu-dominated towns in the southern Jammu region, police said.

Thousands of people held noisy protests in occupied Kashmir after Friday prayers at mosques to protest against Israeli raids on Lebanon.—AFP