Strike grips main city of Indian Kashmir to protest president’s visit
India’s President Abdul Kalam began a two-day visit to insurgency-racked Indian Kashmir as shops and businesses in the main city closed to protest against his arrival. The shutdown in Srinagar was called by the hardline wing of the separatist alliance Hurriyat and backed by the powerful Islamic rebel group Hizbul Mujahedin which is fighting New Delhi’s rule in the Muslim-majority region. Full Story