The Hindu : Front Page : Strike total in Valley; top Hizb militant killed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 28, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Strike total in Valley; top Hizb militant killed

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: A total strike was observed in Kashmir Valley on Friday in protest against the alleged desecration of the Koran by U.S. soldiers at Guantanamo Bay. Protesters burnt U.S. flags and effigies of President George Bush.

Chairman of hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani, who had given the strike call, was put under house arrest.

"He (was) to lead an anti-U.S. demonstration in downtown Srinagar after Friday prayers, Mr. Geelani's spokesman said.

Dukhtara-e-Millat, rightwing women's organization, supported the strike call.

Shops, schools, banks, government and private offices were closed.

The streets wore a deserted look as traffic stayed off the roads. Inter-district transport service was also suspended.

Soon after the prayers at the Jamia Masjid, where Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered the sermon, a large number of people took to the streets shouting anti-U.S. slogans.

Major success

Police achieved a major success with the killing of Hizb militant commander Mohammed Yusuf in an encounter in Kawoosa on Thursday night. H.K. Lohia, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Central Kashmir, said the militant was wanted in connection with the attack on Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed last year.

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