Srinagar: A 24-hour bandh is being observed in Kashmir by the separatists to lodge their protest against the death of 24-year-old trucker Zahid Bhat who was attacked using petrol bombs in Udhampur.
Authorities have imposed restrictions in eight areas in Kashmir and placed several separatist leaders under house arrest in view of a strike called in wake of the death of a trucker. Strict restrictions have been imposed on movement of people in Anantnag and Bijbehara police station areas in South Kashmir, a police official said.
Similar restrictions have been imposed in six police station areas of Srinagar - M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Maisuma, Rainawari and Khanyar.
The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure following violent protests on Sunday in many parts of the Valley after Zahid succumbed to his injuries at a Delhi hospital.
Public Safety Act was slapped against five of the seven people arrested in the case. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Ahmad Shah are among several separatist leaders placed under house arrest, the official said.
A resident of Anantnag in South Kashmir, Zahid was conductor of the truck that was en route to Kashmir when a mob attacked it with petrol bombs on October 9. The driver of the truck Showkat Ahmed is also admitted in the hospital.
As soon as the news about his demise reached his Batengoo village, a spontaneous shutdown was observed and clashes between protesters and police broke out there and adjoining areas in Kulgam and several places in Srinagar, police said.
Police had to use force, like teargas and cane-charge, to control the situation but nobody was hurt.
An aircraft of the state government flew Zahid's body on Sunday evening from Delhi to Srinagar from where it was taken to his native village for last rites.
Ruling PDP chief and MP from Anantnag Mehbooba Mufti, state's Finance Minister Haseeb A Drabu and Law Minister Basharat Bukhari were at Srinagar airport to receive the body.
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