Srinagar: Kashmir Monday observed complete shutdown against the murderous attack on Kashmiri truckers on Srinagar-Jammu highway near Udhampur. The call for shutdown was given by Huriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, trader’s bodies and other separatist organizations
All the shops and business establishments, educational institutions remained shut while transport also remained off the roads.
Two Kashmiri truckers from South Kashmir were attacked by an unruly mob reportedl;y associated with the right wing Bajrang Dal party-an offshoot of BJP.
The injured are treated at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi where doctors termed their condition stable.
As per reports, people and activists of different separatist organizations staged protests at many places across Kashmir against this inhuman act while at several places youth clashed with government forces.
Scores of lawyers from High Court Bar Association led by Vice-President Advocate Ajaz Bedar staged a massive protest outside court complex.
Amid pro-freedom, anti-Mufti-Modi government slogans the lawyers demanded stringent punishment for the accused involved in the murderous attack on Kashmiri truckers. The protesting lawyers suspended their work and disrupted traffic on Bypass for half an hour. They alleged that under pressure PDP has miserably failed to curb the communal elements in the State.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that Liberation Front leader Showkat Ahmed Bakshi and other activists of the organization were detained by police after scores of activists tried to march towards city centre Lal Chowk.
Some youth while resenting the police action pelted stones on police vehicle. The police retaliated and reportedly arrested three youth.
Earlier, while starting its protest march at Abi Guzar, Showkat Bakshi warned government that if it fails to curb the communal Hindu elements, it will then have serious consequence. He said that Kashmiri truckers are attacked to crush people of Kashmir economically.
“It is time for fruit growers to reap the benefits of their year’s hard work and these communal frenzy people do everything to assault and scare Kashmiri truckers. It is equally shameful for state government which failed to contain these frenzy elements,” Bakshi said. 
The activists of Jammu Kashmir People’s Freedom League also protested against the Udhampur incident here. Number of activists led by party General Secretary Muhammad Ramzan Khan appeared in Press Enclave and staged Dharna. They were carrying banners and placards seeking an end to communal terrorism.
Police detained these activists when they tried to take a march towards city centre Lal Chowk.
Amid shutdown a protest march was also taken out by people in Handwara town that was attended by a large number of people. Denouncing beef ban and Udhampur attack on Kahsmiri truckers, people accused government of failing to ensure security to Kashmiri drivers on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Reports said that all the districts of Kashmir Valley observed shutdown against the Udhampur incident. At Kadalbal Pampore in Pulwama district, agitated youth attacked moving vehicles with stones, causing damage to a couple of vehicles.
Meanwhile, police official told CNS that the situation remained peaceful across Kashmir. (CNS)
