Srinagar, May 24 (KNS): Life across the Valley came to a grinding halt on Friday as the authorities imposed curfew-like-restrictions in most parts of Kashmir in wake of killing of a top militant commander Zakir Musa in a gunfight that raged in Dadsara village of Tral on Thursday evening.
Police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength today in many sensitive areas here to thwart any possible protests against the death of Zakir Musa.
Witnesses told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the forces were deployed in Srinagar and other areas in the wee hours of this morning who had erected concertina wires on the roads.
The curfew-like-restrictions as per officials were put in place as precautionary measure to thwart any protest.
Moreover, a spontaneous shutdown was observed across the Valley to mourn the death of a militant commander in an encounter.
All the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and private offices remained closed today while as the vehicular movement was also off the roads.
Besides, Colleges and Schools across the Valley also remained closed today as precautionary measure.
However, clashes erupted between youth and forces at various places in Srinagar and other areas today during which many youth have sustained injuries.
The clashes broke out after mandatory congregational prayers at various places including Habba Kadal, Batamaloo, Sopore, Kupwara town, Batergam, Trehgam and many other areas of South Kashmir districts.
Moreover, the mobile internet services were snapped across the Valley while as the train services from Banihal to Baramulla were also suspended.
Moreover, the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Old City Nowhatta in Srinagar were disallowed by the authorities for the second consecutive week.
The prayers were disallowed amid strict restrictions imposed by the government to thwart protests against the death of a militant commander Zakir Musa who was killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Dadsara area of Tral on Thursday.
Amid restrictions, all the four gates of Jamia Masjid remained locked, barring people from offering prayers in the Masjid.
Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and Jamia Masjid’s head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the disallowing of Friday prayers today, stating that it is extremely sad that Kashmir loses its promising young on every day in one way or other to the lingering conflict.
In a tweet this afternoon, Mirwaiz urged all stakeholders to come together to bring peace to this beleaguered land by resolving the Kashmir issue.
“Condemn that for the second time in #Ramadan jumma prayers disallowed at #JamaMasjid. Extremely sad that each day #Kashmir loses its promising young in one way or other to the lingering conflict. Urge all stakeholders to come together to put an end to this daily killing and violence and bring peace to this beleaguered land by resolving the Kashmir issue,” Mirwaiz tweeted. (KNS)