Shutdown in Kashmir to protest against verdict on Delhi blast

Srinagar, Apr 23 (ANI): The Hurriyat Conference called for a shutdown in Kashmir Valley on Friday to protest against the verdict of a Delhi Court, awarding death sentence to three persons including two Kashmiris for their alleged involvement in the Lajpat Nagar bomb blast case in New Delhi.

Besides death sentence for the three accused, one was awarded life term and one was given imprisonment for seven years.

All shops, business establishments, schools and colleges were shut down and traffic remained off the roads.

"Out of three people sentenced to death in connection with the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast, two are Kashmiris. That is why the Hurriyat had given a shutdown call yesterday evening due to which today all shops are closed and traffic is not moving," said Maqbool Ahmad, a resident.

Authorities have made elaborate security arrangements across the Kashmir valley to prevent any untoward incident.

The blasts rocked Lajpat Nagar's Central Market on the evening of May 21, 1996, killing 13 and injuring scores of people.

The accused were arrested soon after the incident by the police, which tracked the calls made by them to various media houses, claiming responsibility for the terror attack.(ANI)