Kashmir shuts on World Human Rights Day

Srinagar, Dec 10: On World Human Rights Day, Kashmir Monday observed a complete shutdown to protest against the human rights violations in the region.

The shutdown call was given by Joint Hurriyat, a leadership amalgam of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Yasin Malik.

All shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport was off the roads. The authorities had suspended train services between Banihal and Baramulla while restrictions on public movement were imposed in parts of old Srinagar.

Many separatist leaders were put under house arrest.

Shutdown was also observed in other towns of the Valley including Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Kangan.

Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) staged a silent protest amid shutdown in Press Enclave Srinagar.

The Joint Hurriyat had asked the people of Kashmir to observe complete protest strike on December 10, the World Human Rights Day, against the “gruesome human rights situation” and also to register their regret at the apathy of international community and rights organizations towards the plight of people of Kashmir.

“The leadership once again urged the world peace organizations, international community, Amnesty International Asia Watch, UNHRC and ICRC to take note of the Kashmir situation and put pressure on New Delhi to stop the grave human rights violations forthwith,” the Joint Hurriyat had said in a statement.