Normal life in Kashmir was paralysed today due to a strike called by traders' bodies and supported by separatist groups to protest attack in Udhampur on a truck from the Valley last week even as security has been tightened on the highway for movement of vehicles.
Schools, shops and other business establishments remained closed in Kashmir in view of the strike called by Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers' Association and Kashmir Economic Alliance. Separatist groups including both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF have supported the strike call.
While public transport was off the roads, private vehicles including taxis were plying on the roads normally.
The attendance in government offices was thin due to the non-availability of public transport facilities.
The strike had been called to protest against the alleged petrol bomb attack in Udhampur in Jammu region on a truck from Kashmir on Friday night in which three persons including a policeman were injured.
The two Kashmiris injured in the attack have since been shifted to a hospital in Delhi for treatment as they had suffered severe burn injuries in the attack.
Six people have been arrested in connection with that attack.
Meanwhile, authorities in Udhampur said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place on the National Highway and dismissed rumours of any fresh attack on Kashmir-bound vehicles.
"Teams of policemen in civil clothes are also maintaining vigilance against any attempts to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the district," Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.
Clarifying on the rumors of fresh attacks, he asserted that no such incident has been reported after the truck incident on intervening night of October 9 and 10.
"No fresh incident of attack on Kashmir-bound vehicle has been reported along the National Highway," he said.
An official spokesman said DIG Udhampur-Reasi range is personally monitoring the security deployment and arrangements on the highway and confidence building measures have been taken.
The support from local people in Udhampur is encouraging and anti-social elements involved in rumour-mongering have been identified to be booked under law in addition to persons arrested for criminal act, he said.
