An appeal for a shutdown against Friday’s violent incidents in the town of Kishtwar issued by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani evoked no or very little response in Kashmir Valley on Saturday.
The octogenarian leader had in a statement on late Friday said that “organised” violence against Muslims in Jammu region particularly Chenab valley was unacceptable and the world community should take a serious note of it. He appealed people to strike their work for the day on Saturday in protest against the Kishtwar incidents but Id festivities, which began in the Muslim dominated Kashmir Valley earlier this week, were not affected by his bandh call.
Srinagar and other Valley towns gave usual post-Id day look. Mr Geelani has now asked people to observe the strike on Sunday. A spokesman of his Tehrik-e-Hurriyat said, “After monitoring the situation in Kishtwar and rest of the Jammu province and keeping in view the present position in the town where strict curfew is being enforced and five hundred military and paramilitary personnel called from Jammu to control the situation in small town and where people particularly those belonging to Muslim community are being harassed and in view the gross damage to their property also, he has called for state-wide complete shutdown tomorrow (Sunday).”