Srinagar, June 28: People across the Valley observed a shutdown for the fourth consecutive day Thursday to mourn the gutting of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) Shrine, while old Srinagar remained under curfew for third consecutive day.
The strike call was given by Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashir-u-din, who has also appealed the people to march to Khanyar on Friday to mourn the gutting of the shrine.
Most of the separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Muhammad Yasin Malik were placed under house arrest by police.
Shops and business establishments across the valley remained closed and thin transport was seen plying on some roads. The work in government offices, banks, schools and other institutions was affected due to non-availability of public transport. In old Srinagar, police and CRPF laid razor wire and erected barricades at roads and junctions to stop the movement of people and vehicular traffic as the areas under the jurisdiction of police stations Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safakadal and Kralkhud remained under curfew for third day.
The policemen were seen making announcements of curfew over loudspeakers Thursday morning. They were urging the people to stay indoors.
In other parts of Srinagar and towns of other districts heavy contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed to thwart any protest demonstration by the people. Unconfirmed reports said that clashes broke out between stone-throwing youth and police at Rambagh, Solina, Zakura and Bemina. However no one was injured.
The patients and doctors who had to reach SKMIS had to move through foreshore road as the police and CRPF were not allowing them to pass through old Srinagar.
Police and CRPF were seen carrying out checking of vehicles entering Srinagar from other districts at Parimpora, Pantha Chowk, Soura and Bemina.
At most of the roads in Srinagar, police was also seen checking the documents of bikers.
Strike was also observed in Islamabad (Anantnag) town of south Kashmir. In the morning groups of youth pelted stone on police and CRPF. They were demanding release of youth arrested during past three days by police in various areas of the town. Bijbehara area of the district observed partial strike.
The strike was also observed in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir. Shops and business establishments remained closed. Schools and other government offices recorded thin attendance.
Normal life was also paralyzed in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts of north Kashmir due to the strike. Sopore observed a partial strike, however the town witnessed heavy deployment of police and CRPF.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST