KL Report
SRINAGAR
A complete shutdown was observed in southern town of Shopian, Friday to press for their demand of shifting the Gagren, CRPF camp.
The shutdown was followed by a sit in which was attended by hundreds of locals.
All the shops business establishments, educational institutions, banks and government offices remain closed in the town.
The shutdown call was given by the local coordination committee last week.
The coordination committee is comprised of the representatives of the local traders federation, fruit growers association, Majlis-e-Mashawrat, Bar association and almost all the local socio, religious and business organizations.
The locals have already set October 10 as deadline for the shifting of the CRPF camp of 14th battalion.
Five persons were killed in two separate incidents of firing by CRPF camp situated at Gagren.
The locals have threatened that if the camp is not shifted by or before October 10, the Gagren village will migrate enmass.
Shopian remained under curfew from September 7 to 22 barring few hours of relaxation.
After curfew was lifted, the town went on an indefinite strike till September 29.
The town resumed its normal life only after setting a deadline and issuing a protest calendar. The locals demand not only the shifting of the camp but arresting the CRPF men also who according to them are involved in the two firing incidents.
Pertinently government has already announced a judicial probe in the killing of four people in the incident which occurred on September 7. Government on Friday also nominated M L Koul, retired high court judge for the purpose.
Government has also made it clear that three persons killed in the firing incidents were civilians while as the fourth was a militant.
The civilian killings in Shopian rocked the state legislative assembly which is in session a number of times.
