Separatist strike in Kashmir affects normal life for 2nd day
Srinagar, Apr 11 Separatist-sponsored strike against the death of eight civilians in poll violence affected normal life for the second consecutive day in Kashmir where a school designated as a polling centre in Shopian district was set on fire by miscreants. Most shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across the Valley, officials said. They said public transport was off the roads, but private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying at few places across Kashmir. The officials said while no restrictions were imposed anywhere in the Valley, security forces have been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order. The separatists had called for a two-day shutdown from Monday against the deaths of eight protesters in firing by security forces on Sunday, saying it was the only way for them to express solidarity with the families of those killed. Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for the ‘hartal’ to protest against the deaths. Meanwhile, miscreants last night set on fire a government school building in Shopian. The school was designated as a polling centre, officials said. They said the Government High School, Rawalpora, Shopian was set ablaze last night and the fire damaged the building completely. PTI
ANANTNAG, Apr 10 A government school was set on fire today by unidentified people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag. This is the third school to be burnt in the state since yesterday, and among the over 20 where arson has been reported in the last two months.
Fire at the higher senior secondary school broke out in the afternoon. It was doused by fire engines along with the help of locals, an official said.
A Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya school in Aishmuqam was also set on fire on Saturday night.
Officials said the cause of fire in both incidents has not been ascertained yet.