Shutdown in Kashmir to protest Ansari's visit

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley yesterday observed a near total general strike against the visit of Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari to preside over the 17th convocation of Kashmir University yesterday. Yesterday's strike was called by the hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who continues to remain under detention at an undisclosed place in Srinagar.

Four youth were injured, when Indian security forces fired rubber bullets to quell a furious mob in the north Kashmir Baramulla town late Friday evening in the continuing protests against the rape and murder of two south Kashmir women last month.

The strike yesterday was complete in Srinagar, where the authorities had imposed strict security restrictions in parts of old city for the second consecutive day. Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops had erected barricades to block thoroughfares and no movement was allowed.

Shops, businesses, government offices, schools and banks were shut and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar and other major and minor towns of Kashmir. All roads leading to the Kashmir University where the vice president presided over the annual convocation were blocked.

Authorities had virtually turned the University campus into a fortress.

Proposing the creation of new opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, Ansari said "the youth of the state were potentially a most valuable resource that needed be empowered."

"The youth in the age group of 15 to 35 years constitute nearly 40 percent of the total population of India. It is the same in case of Jammu and Kashmir. This group represents the most vibrant and dynamic demographic segment and constitutes potentially a most valuable human resource," Ansari said while delivering the convocation address.

The Kashmir University students who had called for a boycott of the function were evicted from the University hostels two days before the function. The students had held protests last week against the Shopian rape and murder of two young women.

Protests continued in the Shopian town for 21st day running with angry youth shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans indulging in heavy stone pelting on police and paramilitary in the town.

Baramulla town witnessed massive protests late Friday evening as the authorities lifted the restrictions in the town late Friday. The separatist call for Baramulla march was foiled by the authorities by imposing curfew like restrictions in the Baramulla district and Srinagar.

Security forces had to fire rubber bullets to quell protesters in Baramulla town late yesterday, resulting in injuries to four youth who were evacuated to hospital. Condition of Manzoor Ahmad, admitted in the medical institute here continues to be critical.

One person was killed and four others injured in a separate hand grenade attack, which targeted a passing tourist bus in the Dalgate area of the capital city thronged by Indian and foreign tourists who arrive here in thousands every day.

The grenade, however, missed the target and exploded on the road, killing a local vegetable vendor instantly and injuring four other bystanders.

Thousands of troops patrolled the streets of Kashmir as businesses, schools and government offices closed in protest yesterday as locals continued to accuse Indian soldiers of raping and killing two young women last month.

The protests, sometimes deadly, have continued since the bodies of the 17-year-old girl and her 22-year-old sister-in-law were found in a stream May 30. Police initially said they appeared to have drowned. A week later, amid the massive demonstrations across the disputed, mostly Muslim region, the police registered a case of rape and murder. They have not named any suspects.