Srinagar, Apr 07 (KNS): Complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama and Shopian districts against the killing of two Hizbul Mujahideen commanders in Vehil village of Shopian district, amid protests by the people.
Pulwama district the shutdown for the second consecutive day Thursday against the killing of militant Bilal Ahmad Bhat of Kareemabad in Gudoora village.
Two HM commanders Naseer Ahmad Pandit and Waseem Ahmad Malla were killed in an encounter in Vehil village in Shopian district in the dawn of Thursday.
Naseer Pandit had joined militants in 2015 after deserting from police. He was a constable in police, deployed as a security personal of PDP MLA Altaf Bukhari and had fled away along with service rifles.
Protests erupted in Kareemabad and Pehlipora villages in the two districts after the reports about the killing of the two militants.
Shops, business units and schools were shut on the day and public transport was off the roads. Thousands of youth on bikes and cars were seen rushing toward Kareemabad and Pehlipora villages to join the funeral processions of the two militants.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Locals who attended the funeral processions said that thousands of people participated in the funeral processions of the two slain militants.
Reports said that a police van was set ablaze by angry protesters in Murran chowk of Pulwama town during clashes between agitated youth and forces. The angry youth pelted stones toward the security forces deployed in the town to thwart escalation of the protests. Six youth were injured during the clashes.
Superintendent of Police Rayees Ahmad Bhat told KNS that stone pelting incidents took place in Pulwama town, Newa and Kareemabad.
He said that nine policemen were injured and a security bunker of police was burnt by some youth.
“Barring these three places, situation in the district was normal and peaceful,” the SP said. (KNS)