Srinagar, June 27: For the third consecutive day Wednesday, people across the valley observed shutdown to mourn the tragic gutting of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine in a devastating fire on Monday. Undeclared curfew remained in place for the second consecutive day Wednesday in old city areas amid reports of clashes elsewhere.
Though separatists had not called for any strike today, but the senior Hurriyat conference leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Shahid-ul-Islam were placed under house arrest by the authorities in Srinagar.

CENTRAL KASHMIR
Shops and business establishments in Central Kashmir remained closed and traffic was off the roads. Even the inter-district transport was off the roads. With non-availability of transport, work in government offices, banks, schools and other institutions was affected. Courts in Srinagar and other districts were also closed.
Heavy contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed at lanes and by lanes of Srinagar to thwart any protest demonstration. Undeclared curfew remained imposed for the second consecutive day today under the jurisdiction of 6 police stations including Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Safakadal and Kralkhud.
In old Srinagar police and CRPF laid razor wires and erected barricades at road and junctions to stop the movement of people and vehicular traffic. Armored vehicles were also seen at road junctions in old Srinagar. The residents of old Srinagar said that they were not allowed to purchase eatables and other essentials. “We are not allowed to move out by police and CRPF to purchase eatables and other essential items,” said one Gulzar Ahmad of Nowhatta. He said it was for the second consecutive day today that strict restrictions continued in the area. “Even people were barred from offering congregational prayers in mosques,” he said.
Early in the morning, groups of youth clashed with police and CRPF in Batamaloo area of Srinagar. The youth pelted stones on police and CRPF and later they dispersed peacefully.
Though there were no restrictions in uptown areas of Srinagar, but police and CRPF were deployed in large numbers to thwart any attempt of protest demonstrations. The roads in uptown wore a deserted look.
The strike was also observed in Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Central Kashmir.

SOUTH KASHMIR:
Tension gripped this south Kashmir town on Wednesday when scores of youth clashed with police. Witnesses said that protesters assembled in old town Wednesday morning demanding release of youth arrested during past two days. A huge contingent of police resorted to baton charge to disperse them. However, youth retaliated with stones triggering clashes. Later they dispersed peacefully.
Unconfirmed reports said that four persons were injured in clashes.
The strike was also observed in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir. The roads wore a deserted look. Shops and business establishments remained closed. Schools and other government offices were also closed.

NORTH KASHMIR:
Due to the strike, normal life was also disrupted in Baramulla, Handwara and Bandipora towns of north Kashmir. Sopore and Kupwara towns observed partial strike. The traffic in these areas was off the roads and business establishments and government schools were closed.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST