SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Life across Muslim majority areas of India-controlled Kashmir including Srinagar city Monday came to a complete halt in response to a shutdown call and severe restrictions imposed by authorities, officials and locals said.
The shutdown call was given by Kashmir Bar Association, a fraternity of lawyers to protest what they call "the collapse of judiciary, maltreatment meted out to political prisoners in and outside jails and veiled attempts by New Delhi to change the demographic position and identity of India-controlled Kashmir."
However, authorities fearing clashes in the Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir deployed hundreds of paramilitary troopers and policemen to impose restrictions. These men have blocked roads by placing barricades and coils of concertina.
"The restrictions have been enforced to prevent clashes in the city and maintain law and order," said a police officer posted in the city.
Business, shops and government offices remained closed in Srinagar and traffic was off the roads. Similar reports were received from other districts of the region.
"There is heavy deployment outside on roads. The police and paramilitary troopers are checking the identity of the pedestrians since early morning," said Dilshad Ahmad, a downtown resident in a telephonic interview.
The shutdown call by Kashmir Bar Association was supported by both factions of Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance.
New Delhi is preparing for the biggest ever headcount or census 2010 across India including insurgency affected India-controlled Kashmir.
Last time, in 2001, separatists had asked people to stay away from the census or a decennial exercise, and militants had threatened officials too.
In 1991 census did not take place in Kashmir because of disturbed situation, and officials projected figures on the basis of 1981 census, which itself has been controversial and criticized by many Kashmir politicians. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-05/10/c_13286192.htm
The shutdown call was given by Kashmir Bar Association, a fraternity of lawyers to protest what they call "the collapse of judiciary, maltreatment meted out to political prisoners in and outside jails and veiled attempts by New Delhi to change the demographic position and identity of India-controlled Kashmir."
However, authorities fearing clashes in the Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir deployed hundreds of paramilitary troopers and policemen to impose restrictions. These men have blocked roads by placing barricades and coils of concertina.
"The restrictions have been enforced to prevent clashes in the city and maintain law and order," said a police officer posted in the city.
Business, shops and government offices remained closed in Srinagar and traffic was off the roads. Similar reports were received from other districts of the region.
"There is heavy deployment outside on roads. The police and paramilitary troopers are checking the identity of the pedestrians since early morning," said Dilshad Ahmad, a downtown resident in a telephonic interview.
The shutdown call by Kashmir Bar Association was supported by both factions of Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance.
New Delhi is preparing for the biggest ever headcount or census 2010 across India including insurgency affected India-controlled Kashmir.
Last time, in 2001, separatists had asked people to stay away from the census or a decennial exercise, and militants had threatened officials too.
In 1991 census did not take place in Kashmir because of disturbed situation, and officials projected figures on the basis of 1981 census, which itself has been controversial and criticized by many Kashmir politicians. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-05/10/c_13286192.htm
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