SRINAGAR; Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani defers the shutdown call scheduled for Feb 27 on the request of Kashmiri Pandits who will be celebrating Mahashivratri on the same day.

Geelani earlier called for shutdown on Feb 27 to mourn the killings of seven persons in Dardepora Kupwara. Army is claiming the slain as militants while as locals challenged this claim and said that the slain are civilians and went to forest to collect firewood.

“Some Pandits called Geelani Sahab and informed him that they were celebrating Mahashiveratri, on February 27, so Geelani Sahab has deferred the shutdown ” Hurriyat (G) spokesman informed Kashmir Informer adding “now shutdown will be observed on Friday, February 28.”