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Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard in front of shuttered shops during a one day strike in Srinagar on May 21, 2012. — Photo by AFP

SRINAGAR: An annual strike called by separatists in Indian-administered Kashmir has shuttered shops and businesses to mark a Muslim cleric's assassination 22 years ago.

The cleric, Mirwaiz Mohammed Farooq, had argued for the Himalayan territory's right to vote on whether it should be independent or governed by India or Pakistan.

Separatists say they're also honouring separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone, who was gunned down on the anniversary in 2002.

Officials say they've imposed restrictions on people's movement within the main city of Srinagar in hopes of preventing a separatist rally Monday.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the region claimed by both India and Pakistan and split by a heavily militarised line of control between the two countries.

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