SRINAGAR, Feb 16: A strike called by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to protest human rights abuses by Indian forces and the death of a government employee closed shops and businesses here on Saturday.

Streets in Srinagar were almost deserted during the strike, called by the APHC after the government employee was shot dead on Tuesday.

Hurriyat was supported in the strike by the Employees Joint Action Committee, a government employees body, and several Mujahideen groups.

“India has been teaching lessons of non-violence to the world but in actual practice it has set new records of tyranny (in occupied) Kashmir)...we appeal to people to observe a complete shutdown on Feb 16,” Hurriyat said in a statement.

Authorities in occupied Kashmir have ordered a probe into the shooting of government employee Abdul Ahad Bhat in Baramulla, 50kms north of Srinagar, which this week prompted protests from thousands of residents in the northern region of the held state.

Hurriyat claims Bhat was killed by soldiers in his home but a spokesman for the Indian army said the man was killed in an exchange of fire between Mujahideen and soldiers.—Reuters