Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Saturday in wake of a strike call given by all separatist groups against the ban on sale and consumption of beef in the state, while as police and paramilitary forces imposed curfew-like restriction in many areas of Srinagar city and other townships.
Shops, business establishments and schools remained closed across the valley, while as government offices witnessed thin attendance as public transport was off the roads. Kashmir University has also postponed exams scheduled for today.
Separatist leaders including Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah had termed the ban on beef as interference into the religious matters of Muslims, and have asked people to protest and observe shutdown to “give message to government and judiciary that they have no right to ban anything that is halaal (permitted) as per Quran and shariah (Islamic law)”.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe separatist leaders have already been placed under house arrest.
Police, meanwhile, said that situation remained normal across Kashmir. “Overall situation remained normal for the whole day,” IGP Kashmir SM Geelani told KNS.
Talking to KNS, DIG Central Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Bhat said that police had to impose restrictions in some areas of downtown Srinagar as a “precautionary measure”
On Friday too, protests were held across the valley against the ban and defying High Court order at many places, protestors slaughtered bovines. The controversy started on Wednesday after a double bench of JK High Court asked the government to strictly impose ban on the sale of beef in JK.