SRINAGAR – Authorities on Monday imposed restrictions in Srinagar to thwarta proposed rally by separatists on the death anniversaries of twoseparatist leaders even as life was affected in rest of the OccupiedKashmir valley due to a shutdown.

Separatist leaders under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)had called for a shutdown and urged people to gather at Martyrs Graveyardin Eidgah area of old city to commemorate the death anniversaries ofMirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.

Police and CRPF laid iron barricades and concertina wires to block manyparts of old city including Eidgah to prevent any mass movement andgathering of people.

“Restrictions have been imposed in areas falling under five police stationsof downtown while Masiuma and Kralkud areas have been partially put underrestrictions,” said a police official.

Shops, businesses and educational institutes were mostly closed whilepublic transport movement was very negligible following the shutdown call.All Kashmir University examinations scheduled for the day were postponed.Authorities also suspended train services between south and north Kashmirfearing protests.

JRL leader Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were put under housearrest ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit last weekend whileYasin Malik was in police custody.

Mirwaiz Umar, who is son of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, expressed his angerover the restrictions.