Shopian shuts again, people stage 2 hr sit-in

SHABIR AHMAD. Dated: 10/5/2013 1:30:55 PM

‘Residents demand removal of Gagran camp by October 10’

SRINAGAR, Oct 4 :Life was brought at halt in Shopian township of south Kashmir as the town observed a complete shutdown to press the government for the complete removal of the CRPF camp from Gagran. Amid a complete shutdown a peaceful sit-in was observed near Goal Chowk after the Friday prayers.
On September 7 and 11 the CRPF men of 14 battalion shot dead five persons outside their camp in Gagran area triggering violent protests in the town. Following the protests authorities clamped curfew in the town which remained in force for the fifteen consecutive days. After lifting of curfew from the town the people continued to observe strike for seven running days. They are demanding the complete removal of the CRPF camp from Gagran without any replacement as ordered by the state cabinet.
The town returned to normal last week after remaining crippled 22 days. The decision to call off the strike was taken by the joint committee of traders, transporters, lawyers, fruit growers and civil society and Majlis-i-Mashawrat members. The committee had also called for shutdown and sit-in on October 4 and 11 if the camp was not removed before the deadline that was set as October 10.
Going by the program, reports said that a complete shutdown was observed in the township bringing normal life to a complete halt. All the shops, business establishments, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained shut in the township. Traffic was also off the roads in the town.
“After the Friday prayers, hundreds of people including traders, fruit growers, lawyers, transporters, civil society members and youth took out a procession from the Jamia Masjid and staged peaceful sit-in near Gole Chowk for nearly two hours,” said president of the Traders
Federation, Ghulam Nabi Turray.
He said that representatives of different trade unions addressed the gathering near Gole Chowk. “All the speakers reiterated their demand of the removal of the camp,” Turray said.
He said that if the government fails to remove the camp by October 10, the town as per the already announced program will again observe the shutdown next day on October 11. “Besides the people of Gagran will migrate en-masse the same day towards the main town where they will be provided shelter and food. However, if the authorities fulfill the demand of the people before the deadline there will no strike then,” Turray said.

 

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