Srinagar, Mar 05 (KNS): Authorities on Monday imposed restrictions in Srinagar parts while a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley against the Shopian killings on Sunday evening.
The shutdown call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik against Shopian civilian killings.
A police official however told KNS that two militants and four Over Ground Workers (OGW) believed to be civilians by locals have been killed and the death toll has reached six.
In response of the shutdown call, authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas failing under the jurisdiction of Police Station Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta and M R Gunj in old city while partial restrictions remained in place at Maisuma and Kralkhud areas.
Witnesses said that the Police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in large number in downtown areas to thwart any possible protest against the Shopian killings.
The roads leading to the restriction bound areas were sealed by erecting concertina wires on the roads. Nobody was allowed to move in the restriction bound areas,” witnesses said.
Besides, on JRL’s call, all the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutes remained closed throughout the day while the traffic was also thin on the roads.
The educational institutes across the Valley were scheduled to open today after three months long winter break.
However, the authorities said in the wee hours today said that the schools will remain closed for a day today in view of the prevailing situation.
Director School Education Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo told KNS “All schools will remain closed today across Kashmir. Primary and Middle schools which were scheduled to open today will also remain closed.”
In view of the situation, the authorities in Kashmir University and Board of School Education (BOSE) postponed all the exams scheduled for today.
Amid complete shutdown in the Valley, the authorities detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik after he tried to carry out a protest march against the civilian killings in Shopian on Sunday evening.
Malik along with his supporters tried to march from his Maisuma residence towards Lal Chowk where police stopped him to carry out a protest march and detained him near Budshah Bridge.
Meanwhile, reports said that the clashes erupted between youth and forces at several places including Tral, Awantipora, Pulwama, Shopian and many other villages and towns of south Kashmir during which the forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth.
Reports said that clashes also erupted in Chadoora, Kralpora and Machoowa areas of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The police officials informed KNS that the barring a few incidents of stone pelting, the situation across the Valley remained peaceful and under control.
Meanwhile, the authorities also directed the cellular companies to reduce the mobile internet speed in the Valley as security reason following which the mobile inter speed was reduced to 2g across the Valley while in Southern districts; the mobile internet services were snapped.
It is worth to mention here that the train services in Kashmir were also suspended in view of the shutdown call. (KNS)