Srinagar shuts down

Srinagar: Life across Srinagar was affected Monday due to a separatist shutdown and authorities imposed restrictions in five areas of the city, police said.

Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, and Muhammad Yasin Malik have called for a shutdown Monday and the day will be marked with protests as it was on Oct 27, 1947, when the Indian troops landed in Jammu and Kashmir at the then Kashmir Maharaja's call.

"To maintain law and order in Srinagar, restrictions have been imposed in five areas - Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R. Gunj, Zadibal and Safa Kadal," a senior police officer told IANS.

"These restrictions do not apply on any bona fide movement in the areas. There is no restrictions on movement of students, patients and office goers," the senior police officer said.

Separatist leaders Geelani, Malik, and Farooq have been placed under house arrest in Srinagar city, police said.

Eye-witnesses, however, said coils of concertina wires - the razor-fitted barbed wire - have been placed at road crossings in five areas to prevent pedestrian and vehicular movement.

Markets, public transport, and other businesses remained closed in the city.

However, government offices, banks and post offices functioned in the areas where restrictions have not been imposed. Due to non-availability of public transport, attendances in offices of these organisations were low.

No untoward incident has so far been reported from anywhere in Srinagar where contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was normal.