Mohammad Raafi
SRINAGAR
Following the killing of two civilians including a woman allegedly by government forces in Pulwama on Sunday, normal life in Kashmir Valley Monday remained paralyzed to protest the killings.
The call for shutdown was given by all the major separatist organizations of the valley including both the factions of Hurriyat and JKLF.
All the business establishments, educational institutes and offices across the Valley remained closed and public transport largely was off the roads.
The district administration Srinagar had imposed curfew-like restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in Srinagar fearing protests.
Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were deployed in Srinagar, Pulwama, Islamabad, Budgam, Shopian, Sopore and Baramulla.
Danish Rashid Mir, 19, of Ratnipora village and 22-year-old Shaista Hamid were killed when security forces fired at a group of protesters attempting to break a barrier in Kakapora area where a gunfight had taken place between militants and government forces. Besides, ten other protesters had sustained bullet and teargas shell injuries.
Meanwhile, many parts of the valley witnessed massive protests against the civilian killings.
In south Kashmir’s Islamabad and Dooru areas witnessed massive protests. Police while trying to quell the protests fired teargas shells to disperse the crowds. However, the angry youth retaliated and pelted stones on Police and paramilitary forces.
In Pulwama’s Kakapora, youth angered over the civilian killings, pelted stones on police and paramilitary forces. Police later resorted to teargas shelling to quell the protests. However, youth didn’t desist and ding dong battles continued till the reports last came in.
Three youth have sustained injuries in the police action. One of the injured, Muhammad Yousuf Mir, 35, has been shifted to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital. Yousuf was hit by a teargas shell on his head and was later operated upon. His condition was not immediately confirmed.
In central Kashmir’s Barsoo area of Ganderbal, incidents of stone pelting were reported with youth clashing with police.
Earlier, the youth came on roads to protest the civilian killings in Pulwama.
In Srinagar city, where curfew-like restrictions were imposed, youth in Rajouri Kadal area clashed with police and paramilitary forces with youth pelting stones. Police retaliated by firing teargas shells to disperse the youth. Earlier, youth, who were angry by the civilian killings in Pulwama, came out on roads and held protest demonstration.
In Narbal area of the city outskirts, massive stone pelting is being reported while this news report is being filed.
However, police sources maintained that the situation by and large remained under control. “Incidents of stone pelting were reported from Kakapora, Pulwama and Rajouri Kadal in Srinagar,” they said.
They said that 11-12 persons were injured in the clashes in Kakapora area of Pulwama district, while one policeman also sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, train services between Baramulla town in the Valley and Jammu’s Banihal were suspended for the day.
