KL Report
SRINAGAR
A shutdown is observed in Kashmir valley against the arrests and house detentions of separatist leaders and activists since past ten or fifteen days.
Shutdown call was given by veteran separatist leader and Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani who himself is undergoing house arrest ever since he arrived from New Delhi on April 16.
Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leaders, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan have also been placed under house arrest while as Liberation Front chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik has been detained in Police station Kothi Bagh. Another Hurriyat (JK) leader Mushatq-ul-Islam has been detained in police station Batamalo.
Hurriyat (G) alleges that its dozens of workers and activists have been arrested since last ten or fifteen days “only to sabotage election boycott” campaign. Asad-ull-ah Parray, a senior worker of one of its constituent, Muslim League has been shifted to a jail in Jammu region under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Hurriyat (G), Hurriyat (JK) and Liberation Front are the front runners in calling for election boycott. The three parties and amalgams held many rallies and public meetings. “The administration got afraid of the election boycott campaign and detained all the leaders,” Hurriyat (JK) leader and National Front Chairman, Nayeem Ahmad Khan told Kashmir Life over phone.
Meanwhile, shops, business establishments and educational institutions are closed and the public traffic is off the roads in the summer capital of the state, however, private transport is plying.
The reports of a complete shutdown have reached from all the district headquarters of the valley.
