Srinagar, Mar 10 (KNS): A complete shutdown was observed in the Valley on Friday to mourn the death of two civilians who were killed during clashes near encounter site in Padgampora village of Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The shutdown call was given by the joint resistance leadership including Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik in their joint statement to KNS on Thursday.
All the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and other establishments remained closed while the vehicular movement remained thin on roads throughout the day.
Notably, scores of pro-freedom leaders including Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief, Shabir Ahmad Shah, TeH General Secretary, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Hurriyat (G) chief spokesman, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Mehrajudin, Mohd Ashraf Laaya, Umer Adil Dar and others were placed under house detention.
The move according to a top police official was aimed to thwart any possible protest today.
Witnesses said that a huge contingent of police and CRPF troopers were deployed on the roads in sensitive areas including Maisuma, Nowhatta, Khanyar and others.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat (M) chairman and Jamia Masjid head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was scheduled to lead the protest rally after mandatory Friday prayers was placed under house detention.
Mirwaiz’s media advisor Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam confirmed to KNS that Mirwaiz during the early morning hours was placed under house arrest at his Nageen residence.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe was scheduled to lead a protest rally against the civilian killings.
The authorities also disallowed the mandatory congregational Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid here at old City Srinagar. “We were not allowed to offer the mandatory Friday prayers in the Jamia Masjid today and were forced to offer prayers in the small Masjid’s,” the residents of the area told KNS.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after congregational Friday prayers.
Reports said that youth took to streets after prayers ended at Jamia Masjid and staged pro-freedom protests.
The forces deployed in the area resorted to teargas shells to disperse them, triggering clashes in the area.
Meanwhile, amid snowfall in the area, thousands of people in Malangam village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district attended the funeral procession of a slain militant, who was killed in a shootout in Bandipora on Thursday evening.
The participants were raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans during the procession.
Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid told KNS that the situation remained under control throughout the day. “No stone pelting incident was reported in any part of the Valley throughout the day,” DGP said. (KNS)