The strike reflected public anger with New Delhi as Singh made his first visit to the region in three years. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
SRINAGAR:
Shops, businesses and schools were closed in Indian-administered Kashmir after Kashmiri groups called for a strike on Tuesday to protest a visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the territory.
The strike reflected public anger with New Delhi as Singh made his first visit to the region in three years.
Large numbers of police and paramilitary forces were deployed in Srinagar, a day after a daring attack in which eight army soldiers were killed and 13 others were wounded.
Police closed off several main roads in Srinagar. Paramilitary soldiers with automatic weapons swarmed a convention centre where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to meet local officials later Tuesday to review the progress of development projects in the state.
Late Monday, in a message to local news agencies, Kashmir’s biggest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahedeen, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2013.
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