Srinagar: A shutdown has been called by separatists which affected life across the Kashmir Valley on Thursday with heavy security deployed. The shutdown is called after three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Fateh Kadal area on Wednesday. In the encounter, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Mehrajudd in Bangroo, his associate Faiz Ahmad Waza and Rayees Ahmad were killed. Their elimination was considered a major success for the security forces.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, called the shutdown. Shops, other businesses and public transport remained closed in Srinagar and other district headquarters of the Valley. Skeletal private transport moved in the uptown areas of Srinagar.

Educational institutions were closed due to the Dussehra holiday. The authorities have imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar's old city areas. Train services between Baramulla and Bannihal towns were suspended as a precautionary measure. However, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the valley.

(with input from agencies)