Srinagar: Life across Kashmir valley remained paralysed for the fifth day on Friday due to the separatist-sponsored strike to protest the death of two women in Shopian where the family members of the victims went on a hunger strike to demand justice for them.
As the situation remained tense, security personnel were patrolling the deserted streets of Srinagar and major towns of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Officials described the situation in Shopian as "tense" where family members of the victims -- Nelofar and Asiya -- went on a hunger strike on Thursday.
Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar, husband of Nelofar and brother of Asiya, and father of Nelofar, Syed Abdul Hai, are demanding that the culprits behind the alleged rape and murder of the two women be exposed.
Residents of Bonagam village, from where the victims hailed, have also erected a dozen make-shift tents and decided not to return to their homes till the culprits were punished.
Normal life was hit in the Valley as government offices, educational institutions, banks, courts and semi-government institutions besides markets remained closed in response to the strike called by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is likely to announce his "future course of action" after Friday prayers.
Reports from district towns said shops and business establishments were closed and transport off the roads in Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Kulgam.
Bodies of Nelofar (22) and her sister-inlaw Asiya (17) were recovered on Saturday last after they went missing from their orchards in Shopian on Friday last sparking off massive protests in the Valley.
The state government has already ordered a judicial inquiry into the double murder case.