Strike evokes little response in Srinagar

The strike called by separatist groups in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, to protest the clashes between pro-separatist protestors and security forces evoked little response here today.
Though shops were shut in Lal Chowk city centre, they were open in most other parts of the district, officials said.
Footpath and hand cart vendors went about their business as usual while public transport was plying normally at most of the places.
Government offices and banks functioned normally across Srinagar district, the officials said.
However, schools remained shut in the city as a precautionary measure towards safety of the students in the wake of the strike call, they said.

Clashes broke out yesterday between the protestors and security forces during which Pakistan and global terror outfit IS flags were raised by some youth in Nowhatta area here.

As soon as the Friday prayers were over at Jamia Masjid, a large number of youth raised pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans and tried to march towards Nowhatta Chowk, police said.
Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq claimed police fired tear smoke shells inside the mosque, terming the action as "interference in religious affairs".
The strike call was given by Anjuman Awqaf Jama Masjid, which manages the affairs of the grand mosque, to condemn the police action.

The strike was supported by the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who said the act caused "tremendous hardships to the devotees in the mosque who had assembled to offer Friday prayers there".
The strike was also supported by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF and Kashmir Economic Alliance.