Muslim separatist strike paralyses Indian Kashmir

Srinagar: Much of Indian Kashmir came to a standstill on Saturday ahead of a strike called by Muslim separatist groups.

Shops and businesses were closed and public buses stayed off the roads while thousands of policemen patrolled the streets in anticipation of protests.

The strike was called by the Jammu-Kashmir Coordination Committee, whose members include Muslim separatist leaders.

Police kept three key separatist leaders under house arrest for a second day Saturday to prevent them from leading possible demonstrations.

On Friday, police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse hundreds of Muslim protesters in Srinagar and in nearby Anantnag town.

More than two months of angry protests have left at least 42 people dead in Indian Kashmir.

The unrest was triggered by a government move to hand over land to a Hindu shrine, which Muslims saw as a plan to change demography in the Muslim-majority region.

The plan was quickly scrapped, angering the region's Hindu minority who also launched massive protests.