Even as the two-month-long Amarnath yatra came to an end on Saturday, the protests that have rocked Jammu and Kashmir over the Amarnath land transfer issue are refusing to settle. Restoring normalcy in the state has become top priority for the UPA government at the Centre.Although curfew was lifted from all parts of the Kashmir valley on Friday, normal life in Srinagar and nearby areas remained paralysed on Saturday due to a strike called by separatists to observe the fourth day ceremony of senior Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was killed in a firing incident early this week.
Shops and business establishments, government offices, banks and educational institutions remained closed and transport was off the roads in response to a call given by the coordination committee of separatists.Protesters marched to Pampore, the native village of Aziz, to participate in his fourth day ceremony. The ceremony was to follow a public meeting to be addressed by separatist leaders.