Srinagar, May 14 (IANS) Life was largely affected in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir Valley Saturday due to a shutdown called by separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to press for the release of detained youth and political prisoners.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were shut as public transport remained off the roads in the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital and other major towns although private transport plied normally on city roads.

Attendance in government offices, banks and post offices was thin because of the non-availability of public transport in the city.

Geelani appealed to people to observe a protest shutdown across the valley to press for the release of detained youth and political prisoners.

The authorities have taken adequate steps to maintain law and order in the city.

"Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at sensitive places to prevent miscreants from creating a law and order situation here," a senior police officer said here.