Protests over J-K killings mar PM's visit

Srinagar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is here but protests over fake encounter killings cast a shadow over his two-day visit to the state.

The PM is expected to renew the Centre's offer to hold talks with separatists - talks that have been stalled for a few years now.

The PM will also review the security situation and development programmes with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, apart from addressing a convocation in the Kashmir Agricultural University here.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a bandh in protest even as restrictions are imposed in parts of the state to prevent violence. A general shutdown against Singh's visit affected life across the city on Monday.

"There is no restriction on movement of civilians. Preventive measures have been taken to ensure safety of civilian life and property," a senior police officer said.

Markets remained shut as public transport, schools and other business establishments also remained closed in the city.

Singh on his trip - the second since he was last year re-elected the prime minister - will be accompanied by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah. Both are former chief ministers of the state.

PMO officials said the Prime Minister will hold discussions on the implementation of the recommendations of the five working groups formed for resolving problems in the state that has been battling a 20-year-old bloody separatist war.

The working groups formed after the 2006 round table conference have suggested a series of measures for political and economic development of the state.

Tight security

The Prime Minister's visit comes amid an uproar over the alleged killing of three civilians by army personnel in a staged shootout on the Line of Control (LOC).

A day ahead of Manmohan Singh's trip, the army has suspended two accused officers and assured "transparent" probe into the incident that even has angered Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

A furious Chief Minister on Saturday said that every shootout in Kashmir needed to be verified whether it was "genuine or not".

Separatist leaders have called for a shutdown to protest alleged human rights abuse by security personnel while tight security arrangements have been made in the state capital for the Prime Minister's visit.

More security pickets have been erected at various places, and police have heightened vigil and are carrying out checks to combat threats from terror groups.

This will be for the second time that the Prime Minister will be in the valley after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government returned to power in April-May Lok Sabha elections last year.

He along with Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited the valley in October last year to inaugurate a railway line.