Strike disrupts normal life in Kashmir

Normal life was partially affected in Kashmir on Thursday due to a strike called by separatists to protest the killing of scholar-turned-militant Sabzar Ahmad Sofi and his associate in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday.

Shops, schools and other educational institutions remained closed in the valley due to the strike called by separatist Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, officials said.

There was a skeletal transport service in the city and some inter-district routes as well, the officials said.

The separatists had called for the strike following killing of Sofi and another militant Asif Ahmad in a gunbattle in Nowgam area of the city.