SRINAGAR: Authorities have taken various measures to prevent the escalation of tensions after the killing of six persons including two militants in Shopian. The overnight killings have triggered a serious crisis across Kashmir that is observing a strike on the call of separatist leaders.
KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Within the first half an hour, the police have shut the internet services in Shopian. By this morning, the ban on the internet had reached Pulwama. Right now, there is no 4G internet available anywhere across Kashmir as the speed has already been reduced to 2G.
Reports said there are protests taking place at various places. In the sprawling karewa of Shopian that houses the higher secondary school, a group of people are on way to Herman for joining funeral prayers. They have been interrupted by the army which is preventing them from moving towards Herman. Eventually, however, they were permitted to join the funerals, finally. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain militant Aamir Ahmad Malik son of Bashir Malik, a student of the University of Kashmir. He had joined militancy in 2017, locals said.
On various road connecting major villages, the police and other security agencies have raised drop gates and concertina wire barricades.
The strike has thrown life across Kashmir haywire. The Schools stands closed and all examination cancelled for the day. In major parts of the Srinagar city, restriction shave been imposed. The schools were opening formally today but the strike delayed it for a day.
KL image by Bilal Bahadur
In wake of the day-long strike by the JRL, the police have arrested a few of their activists and restricted the movement of almost all of them.
A JRL spokesman rang up Kashmir Life and informed that the police have arrested two of their members Mohammad Ashraf Laya and Umer Adul Dar from their respective residence last night. “Laya was arrested at 10:30 pm and Dar at 12:30 am,” the spokesman said. “(Ashraf) Seharie is already under house arrest.”
Police continue to be deployed in strength around the residences of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz, and Yasin Malik. There are reports about some protest being taken out in Srinagar but it was not immediately confirmed.
Reports said Police detained dozens of students, who were protesting against the Shopian killings, in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district.
Reports added that several students from different coaching centers assembled at KP Road in Islamabad town to protest against the killings.
However, government forces appeared on the spot and used force to disperse the protesting youth, and detained dozens of students, reports said.
