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Normal life hit in Sringar after Geelani's shutdown call

June 11, 2011 13:04 IST

Life in Srinagar and other major towns was affected by a shutdown called by the hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani to coincide with the first death anniversary of a student killed by a tear smoke shell hit in old city last year.

The killing of 17-year old boy Tufail Ahmad Mattoo triggered months of deadly summer unrest last year that claimed 112 lives and left hundreds others wounded.

Responding to Geelani's calls shops and businesses remained shut in Srinagar where authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order. Attendance in government offices, banks was thin. Security around Eidgah grounds was beefed up.

Reports from other major towns said life was affected there as well.

Authorities have placed Geelani and another senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah under house arrest in Srinagar.

Meanwhile 35-year old Abdul Rashid Reshi who was critically wounded after a bullet hit him in the head during last year's unrest succumbed to injuries on Saturday morning taking the death toll in 2010 unrest to 113.

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar