Srinagar, Feb 15 (KNS): A complete shutdown was Monday observed across the Kashmir Valley against the killing of two students by security forces in Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday afternoon after a brief gunfight in the area.
The shutdown call against the civilians killing was given by all the factions of Hurriyat including Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, senior Hurriyat leader led by Shabir Ahmad Shah, chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik and several other separatist leaders.
Shops, business units have been completely shut, while public transport was off the roads in all the towns of the valley.
The authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in parts of Srinagar city and in Pulwama town to thwart the possible protests.
Police and paramilitary were deployed on the roads to prevent protests. Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel fanned out in the old city areas of Srinagar and blocked all the roads with barricades and concertina wire to curtail pedestrian and vehicular movement in these areas.
Clashes between police and protesters erupted in Nowgam and Habba Kadal. Police resorted to tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Reports said that the clashes between police and youth were going till late evening.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was also observed in South Kashmir while curfew-like restrictions were clamped in Pulwama district.
According to eye-witnesses, curfew like restriction was imposed in Pulwama district to thwart any possible protests. “Almost two youth sustained injuries after being hit by tear smoke shells in Kakapora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district,” they said.
Witnesses said that the civilians received injuries near railway tracks during clashes with forces. “One of them was shifted to SDH Pampore and was later discharged while another injured was shifted to SMHS for treatment,” they informed KNS.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
They told KNS that clashes between youth and forces erupted in several areas of the district including Kakpora, Newa, Pulwama town and other adjacent areas.
Meanwhile, large number of people visited the families of the two slain students in Lelhar and Ratnipora villages in Pulwama district to offer condolences to the grief-stricken families.
A students was beaten up by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Anantnag on Monday morning. “CRPF men entered a tuition centre after some youth hurled stones at them and flexed their muscles on Uzair Ahmad Bhat, son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Anchidora before beating him up,” eyewitnesses told KNS.
Similar reports of shutdown were also received from north Kashmir of the Valley.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while public transport is off the roads in all the towns of the valley.
DIG central, and In-charge DIG South Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that two youth received injuries in Kakpora area of Pulwama during clashes between youth and forces.
Bhat said that the CRPF beat up a student in Anantnag after some youth pelted stones on a patrolling party at 8 Amtoday.
“The youth was not thrown down from the tuition center in Anantnag,” Bhat said.
He said that the minor clashes also erupted in several areas “but the the situation remained almost peaceful. “Clashes erupted in Srinagar’s Nowgam and downtown areas,” he said.
Pertinently, Danish Farooq Mir, 19, an engineering student form Ratnipora, and Shaista Hameed, 22, an MA student of Lelhar village were killed by the forces in Lelhar on Sunday afternoon after a brief encounter in which a local LeT militant, Adil Ahmad, of Banderpora village of Pulwama was killed. (KNS)