Shutdown in Kashmir over detention of separatist leaders

Srinagar, July 25 (ANI): Separatists in Kashmir gave a shutdown call on Saturday in protest against the detention of their leaders.

Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was on Tuesday booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for calling "frequent strikes and protests" in the valley.

Geelani has been held in a forest hut in Srinagar, as per media reports.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar, following the shutdown call.

"All the shops are closed here. Hurriyat (Freedom) has given a call due to detention of their leaders. And the other reason is also that the PSA has been invoked on Geelani," said Asif Bhat, a resident.

Geelani led protests in the valley after bodies of two raped and murdered women were found by the side of a stream May 30.

The authorities have already booked other separatist leaders, including Shabir Shah, Muhammad Nayeem Khan and Asiya Andrabi, under the PSA. (ANI)