Srinagar: Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday due to a day-long shutdown called by hardline Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on the third death anniversary of two Shopian women that had led to widespread protests.
The shutdown call by the hardline Hurriyat faction was marked by thin traffic on roads in the city as many shops and business establishments remained shut. Schools across the city also remained closed and the commercial nerve centre of Lal Chowk and its adjoining markets wore a deserted look.
Geelani had earlier called for a strike on May 29, but postponed it for a day after the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community called on the separatist leader asking him to reconsider the shutdown call as it coincided with the Hindu Kheer Bhawani festival on May 29.
Geelani called for the shutdown on the third anniversary of the two Shopian women - Aasiya and Neelofar. The local residents had alleged that the two women were raped and murdered by unknown men suspected to be from the security agencies.
The 2009 incident had led to a month-long agitation, largely limited to south Kashmir's Shopian district, before the CBI concluded that the two women were not raped and murdered but were drowned.
The shutdown call evoked a mix response in the Civil Lines of the city where many shops remained open and private cars and passenger cabs plied on the roads.
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