Band Called BY Hurriyat Conference Hit Normal Life IN Kashmir Valley
25 April, Srinagar
The normal life has been affected in Kashmir Valley Saturday in response to a strike called by hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani to protest the detention of separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat.
Most of the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutions are closed in Srinagar and elsewhere while government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance. The public transport was off the roads, while cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws plied at some places in the outskirts in Srinagar. Private transport is plying normally in many areas of Srinagar city. Similar reports were received from other districts of the Valley.
Hardline Hurriyat leader Masarat, who was released by the PDP-BJP coalition government last month after spending over four years in jail under PSA, had been arrested on April 17 from his residence at Zaindar Mohalla, in old Srinagar, on charges of waging war against the country and sedition including hoisting Pakistani flag and anti-national slogans during a rally organised on April 15 for hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
He was slapped with PSA and was moved to Kotbhalwal Jail in Jammu region of the state on Thursday . The PSA allows detention of a person for a minimum of six months without trial and implies that 45 year old Masrat Alam will have to stay in jail for a minimum period of two years.
No untoward incident from any part of Kashmir has been reported till last reports came. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and another separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah have been put under house detention. Geelani and his senior aide Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee remained under house arrest for the second consecutive day Saturday .
Shabir Ahmad Shah, who was scheduled to leave Jammu to hold talks with migrant pandits on govt’s proposed township plan and their return, was not allowed to leave his house. Authorities said restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem. Meanwhile, Chief Judicial Magistrate Budgam today rejected the bail application of Masarat Alam Bhat.