Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard in a closed market during a strike in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 12, 2014. A strike call by separatist alliance Saturday hit normal life in Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir including the region's summer capital, Srinagar. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

A strike call by separatist alliance Saturday hit normal life in Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir including the region's summer capital, Srinagar.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads, though some passenger vehicles and private cars were seen plying on roads.

Educational institutions including government schools were closed and attendance in government offices and banks also remained affected.

Similar reports were received from other districts of the region.

The strike call was given by Hurriyat (freedom) Conference headed by moderate Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to protest the government's proposal of extending the lease of Tosamaidan meadow to Indian army.

The Tosamaidan meadow, 65 km southwest of Srinagar city, has served as a firing range zone for Indian army since 1964. The Indian army has been using it for its drills to practice artillery fire and other heavy weapons.

The lease period is ending by the end of this month.

According to official figures, 63 people have lost their lives and 41 others were wounded due to explosions of unexploded shells in and around Tosamaidan during the past five decades.

Villagers in and around the meadow are up in arms against the government proposal to extend the lease and have been staging protests almost on daily basis.

Of late separatist too have raised ante against the lease.

Authorities, fearing clashes, have put separatist leaders including Farooq under house arrest and imposed restrictions in some parts of the city. Hundreds of police and paramilitary troopers have been deployed at sensitive places.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris and separatists have been demanding an end to New Delhi' s rule in the region.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is considered as the country's highest militarized region. Officially India does not reveal the actual number of troops deployed in the troubled region. However, rights activists say there are over 700,000 Indian troops and paramilitary personnel in the region fighting an anti-India insurgency.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the restive region since 1989. Gun fighting between militants and Indian troops in Indian-controlled Kashmir takes place intermittently.