Security was stepped up in Kashmir on Wednesday following the terror attack in Kulgam district in which five labourers from West Bengalwere killed, even as a complete shutdown disrupted normal life across the valley, officials said. Security personnel along with a flying squad have beendeployed in several areas in the city and across the valley, especially inSouth Kashmir.The officials said random checking of vehicles and frisking ofpeople was being done as part of the security drill.

The deployment of additional security personnel was done inthe wake of the killing of five migrant labourers in Kulgam district of southKashmir on Tuesday night. Another labourer was injured and has been shifted toa hospital here.The officials said the security personnel were alert to thwartany attempts by anti-national elements to target non-locals or to derail peace inthe valley.

Normal life remained affected across the Kashmir valley forthe 87th day on Wednesday following the abrogation of Article 370.Clashes brokeout at several places in Kashmir on Tuesday leaving several persons injured.The clashes took place at a time when a delegation of European Union lawmakersis on a two-day visit to the valley.The officials said markets remained closedon Wednesday, while public transport remained off the roads.Roadside vendors,who had regularly set up their stalls over the past two months, also did notturn up for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, they said.

The annual board examinations for class 10 and class 12 arebeing held as per schedule.

Class 10 examinations began on Tuesday, while the class 12exams are scheduled to start from Wednesday afternoon.

Landline and post-paid mobile phone services have beenrestored across the valley, but all Internet services continued to remainsuspended since 5 August.

Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicianshave been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders including twoformer chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti – have been eitherdetained or placed under house arrest.

The government has detained former chief minister andsitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah under the controversialPublic Safety Act.