OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: A strike called by Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir to protest against the killing of a leading Muslim scholar paralysed much of the region on Saturday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion which killed Shah, a respected scholar and a staunch pro-independence supporter, at a mosque in Srinagar minutes before the start of Friday prayers.
Most shops, businesses, schools and offices in occupied Srinagar and other major towns were closed by the strike.
Shah's death sparked condemnation from Muslim Kashmiris and pro-India politicians alike. Kashmir's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, joined throngs of people visiting the bereaved family.
"The killing of a veteran religious scholar is a great loss to the society and those responsible for the crime have exhibited their inhuman behaviour," he said.
Mujahideen described the killing as an "attack on the Kashmiri freedom movement".
"It's nothing but a conspiracy to deprive us of our religious and political leaders," said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Yaseen Malik, head of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Shah's close friend, mourned his loss.
"The killing has broken our back. We will expose those responsible," he said.
Security forces were deployed in strength as a "precautionary measure" to maintain law and order but no incidents were reported, police said.
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