Normal life went out of gear in Kashmir valley following a shutdown call by separatist leaders to exhibit resentment against the Government’s proposals to set-up exclusive residential colonies for the former soldiers and displaced Kashmiri Pandits desiring to return and reside in valley.
Three senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had called for a shutdown on Thursday followed by peaceful protests after Friday prayers. The three leaders, who are fragmented in several separatist groups, had met last week after several years to chalk out a ‘joint strategy” to resist the Government’s proposals to establish exclusive colonies. Malik took the initiative to gather the separatist leadership on the plank.
Most of the shops and business establishments in capital Srinagar and other major towns remained shut while public traffic was generally off the roads. The private vehicles, especially carrying tourists were plying normally. The absence of passenger traffic resulted into skeletal attendance in Government offices while the educational institutions remained closed.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in several sensitive localities of downtown Srinagar and Maisuma localities. However, the authorities did not impose restrictions on the movement of common people. The authorities had put most of the separatist leaders under house arrest to thwart their plans to hold protests.
In a statement Mirwaiz Farooq said that the people’s anger and their concerns of security were genuine considering the “Government’s aggressive and anti-people policies”. He said the stand of the people and APHC was clear that they would not accept the setting up of Sainik colonies, satellite townships for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, settlement of homeless people in the state, and the new industrial policy and as such it was the government which needed to clear its position on these issues.
Terming the displaced Kashmiri Pandits a part and parcel of Kashmiri society, Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat was not opposed to the government decision of giving Pandits a financial package. “The APHC and Kashmiris would welcome Pandits’ return to their homes and hearths so that they re-start living in valley in communal amity just like in the past,” he said.