Srinagar: Separatists have called for two-day strike in Kashmir over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian allegedly by security men on Monday. As a result, Kashmir remained shut in response to the bandh.
The bodies of the two women were fished out from a river on Friday.
The government has rejected the allegations on security personnel, saying preliminary reports suggest there was no rape and murder and it was a case of accidental drowning. But after protests and violence, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered a time bound judicial probe.
A retired High Court Judge will head the probe and will submit his report within one month.
Earlier on Monday, violent protests by the separatists crippled life across Kashmir valley. Shops, business establishments, banks, educational institutions and courts were closed in the city and other major towns of the valley.
Attendance in government offices was also thin and public and private transport kept off the roads.
The strike was called by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and supported by other separatist outfits to protest against the alleged rape and murder of two women identified as Nelofar (22) and Asiya (17) in Shopian on Saturday last.
Geelani also sought the removal of the army from the state.