Normal life was disrupted in Chenab valley and Banihal town of Ramban district on Friday due to a shutdown called against the killing of Rohingya Muslims and “provocative statements of the Indian government” over the Rohingya refugee issue.Shops and other business establishments and some private schools of Muslims remained closed because of the shutdown in Bhadarwah and Kishtwar areas.However, government schools, offices and banks functioned normally and traffic plied on the roads as usual.The shutdown call was issued by Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah, Markazi Seerat Committee Doda, Majlis-e-Shoura Kishtwar, Anjuman Islamia Bhalessa and Thathri to protest against the merciless killings of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar by the government forces and mobs.The shutdown was also called to show resentment against central government "for harassing Rohingya refugees and threatening to forcibly deport them at the behest of RSS.”
“This is really unfortunate that Indian government, which never misses an opportunity to call itself as the largest democracy, is harassing and threatening to forcibly deport Rohingya Muslims to Burma, where hundreds of them are being killed every day and surprisingly United Nations, Human Rights Organisations and Amnesty International have maintained a criminal silence, which is really unfortunate and uncalled for," said Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh, President Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah.Shutdown was also observed in Banihal town of Ramban district in Pir Panjal region of the state.All shops and other business establishments remained closed in Banihal town while traffic remained off the roads to protest the killing and persecutions of Muslims in the Rakhine state.Bar Association also staged a protest to denounce the killings. Scores of lawyers carrying placards and banners registered their protest and urged international community to stop the blood-shed in Burma. (CNS)