Srinagar: Kashmir today observed a shutdown against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who inaugurated the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.The shutdown call was given by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik to protest PM Modi’s visit to the state. Owing to the shutdown, the normal life in Kashmir was disrupted, with shops and business establishments remaining closed in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley. Public transport on most of the Srinagar roads and inter-district highways was disrupted.Apprehending trouble, the authorities had increased security even as Srinagar city witnessed a militant attack on an Army convoy on Saturday in which three jawans were injured.The police and Army had set up ‘nakas’ and check-points on the major highways across Kashmir as they had inputs about the militant movement. While calling for the shutdown, the separatists, in their statement, said the “Indian Prime Minister is visiting (J&K) at a time, when situation is extremely gloomy.”“The Kashmir issue is not about governance, economic packages or incentives, neither it is a law and order problem,” they said, adding that the Kashmir dispute was a political issue related to human society and needed a just solution.
Kashmir Valley shuts down to protest PM’s visit
