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SRINAGAR, March 7: Srinagar was shut down on Thursday by a one-day strike in protest at last week’s killings of Muslims in the Indian state of Gujarat.
The strike, called by over a dozen trade, transport, industry and tourism groups, closed down shops, offices and schools in Srinagar, witnesses said.
Streets were virtually empty of traffic in the city of more than a million.
The only people in Lal Chowk, the usually bustling commercial centre, were India’s Border Security Force soldiers on patrol
“These gory and ignominious incidents call for a struggle against the perpetrators,” said Aasiya Andrabi, head of the Dukhtaran-i-Millat.
“The worst part was the impunity with which Muslim women were targeted by the rioters,” she said in a statement.
12 KILLED: Ten Mujahideen were among 12 people killed in occupied Kashmir on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Police said three Hizb members were shot dead during a cordon and search operation by Indian forces in the village of Vilgam, in Kupwara district.
Several cows and goats were killed when houses and cattlesheds caught fire during the heavy exchange of fire.
Two more Hizb men were killed during another cordon and search operation by Indian soldiers in Kohangam, Budgam district, the spokesman said.
An Indian soldier was injured during the encounter. Nearly 25 Hizb members, including four commanders, have been killed during the past fortnight.
Two Mujahideen and an Indian soldier were killed in two separate encounters in the districts of Rajouri and Poonchon Wednesday night. Police said two Mujahideen and a civilian also died in Anantnag and Baramulla districts.
A former freedom fighter now working for the Indian police and two civilians were injured in a grenade explosion at Kulgam, 70 kilometres south of Srinagar, police said.—AFP
