Srinagar, Sep 18 (IANS) The Kashmir Valley Monday protested Pope Benedict XVI's controversial remarks about Islam last week with a near complete shutdown.
Life in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and all other major towns in the valley remained paralysed with educational institutions, government offices, banks, markets and transport remaining shut.
Protest marches were carried out in Srinagar and Anantnag in south Kashmir as protesters shouted slogans in favour of Islam and torched effigies of the pontiff.
The general strike was called by Syed Ali Geelani, hardliner separatist leader and chairman of the breakaway group of the Hurriyat Conference, and was supported by the local bar association, women's separatist group Dukhtaran-i-Milat and militant group Hizbul Mujaheedin.
The protest strike was held despite the pope's apology Sunday.
A senior police officer said that no untoward incident had been reported from anywhere in Kashmir though the shutdown was total.