Shutdown in Valley over 35A hearing

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 13

A complete shutdown was observed in the Kashmir valley on Wednesday in response to a call given by the separatists to protest against the Supreme Court hearing on Article 35A.

The markets and commercial establishments remained closed across the Valley. The vehicle movement between districts also came to a halt while most schools and offices were shut too.

Security personnel were deployed in strength in the volatile areas of the city to thwart any attempt by the separatists to hold a demonstration.

On Tuesday, the separatists under the banner of the joint resistance leadership called for a two-day shutdown to protest against the scheduled hearing of the petition, which seeks abrogation of Article 35A.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted: “The hearing is scheduled for today and tomorrow in the Supreme Court and the people of the state will forcefully resist every challenge by New Delhi to change the demography of the state.”

The separatist leaders had also warned of a “mass agitation” if the court makes “any adverse order” – either tinkers with or abrogates the law that grants special privileges and rights to the state’s permanent residents.