Normal life was paralysed in the Valley on Friday following a shutdown call by both the groups of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

The strike called by the separatist groups to protest the landing of the Indian army in Srinagar [Images] in 1947 closed all the major markets in summer capital Srinagar and other towns in the Valley.

Educational institutions, banks, business establishments and public transport remained closed in Srinagar city while some private transport plied on the roads.

Work in government offices was also affected as the commuters faced shortage of public transport.

Friday's shutdown call was given by both the groups of the separatist APHC, including those headed by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Meanwhile, the Civil Secretariat from where the chief minister, his council of ministers and all the senior officials of the state, including the chief secretary and commissioners of various departments function, is shutting down for the six-month recess during which the government functions from Jammu.