Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley on Saturday in response to a shutdown call by separatists to protest against the activities of Village Defence Committees (VDCs), a militia armed by the authorities to fight militancy in parts of Jammu province.
The latest wave of resentment triggered against the VDCs after the killing of three people, including a 4-year-old boy and his mother, in the past week in Rajouri district.
Chairman of a faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani had called for the shutdown, which was supported by several other secessionist groups. Shops and business establishments remained closed in several parts of capital Srinagar while public transport was off the roads. This affected the attendance of Government employees. Several examinations were also postponed.
Police laid concertina wires at many sensitive spots to prevent protests, which triggered off on Friday afternoon in several parts of Srinagar. The authorities took JKlF chief Yasin Malik and several of his colleagues into custody after the protests.
Geelani’s call came after three persons were gunned down by VDC members in Rajouri. Shamim Akhtar, a 36-year-old woman from Samote village and her 4-year-old son were killed by Mushtaq Ahmad, a VDC member, using his service rifle in Rajouri on Thursday.