1. Home
2. Top Stories

Shutdown against civilians’ killings hits life in Kashmir

MAJID NABI. Dated: 7/12/2018 12:09:55 PM

SRINAGAR, Jul 11: Normal life in Kashmir including Srinagar city today came to standstill in response to the call given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against ‘continuous civilian killings at the hands of government forces’ in the valley.
The conglomerate of various separatist outfits headed by octogenarian leader, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for valley-wide shutdown against the continuous killings of civilians by the Indian forces.
Clashes also erupted at several places of the city including of the city wherein restrictions were imposed under Section 144 in the wake of separatists shutdown call.
Pertinently two militants and two civilians were killed and hundred and thirty-five civilians injured during clashes near the site of gunfight in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday
Shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed and traffic off the roads, barring nominal movement of private vehicles and cabs, the roads in Srinagar city had worn a deserted look.
Normal work remained suspended in district and High Courts as Kashmir High Court Bar Association had endorsed the shutdown call by JRL against killing of civilians in Kashmir.
Attendance in banks, government and semi-government offices was recorded thin as the employees who had to reach from down town and other district headquarters could not make it to their workplaces due to non-availability of public transport.
Top JRL leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq continued to be under house arrest while custody of Malik who was arrested from his residence last week was extended till July 13.
July 13 is observed as Martyrs' Day in Kashmir to commemorate the people killed on this day in July1931 by the government forces. Top brass in the government including Chief Minister and others uses to visit Martyrs graveyard at Khwaja Bazar in old city to pay homage to July 1931 martyrs.
Trains service from Baramulla to Banihal remained suspended while exams scheduled for today in various universities was postponed till next orders.
Clashes also broke out between government forces and youth in old cities Nawakadal area this evening. Police burst tear smoke shells to disperse the agitating youth who however regrouped and continue to pelt stones on them. Stray clashes also erupted in Soura area on the outskirts of Srinagar city.
However, no one was reported injured in the incident in either places.
Authorities had deployed additional companies of police and paramilitary CRPF in old city to prevent public movement and to thwart any attempt of protest.
Road leading to old city were sealed with concertina wire and iron barricades with posses of police and CRPF in full riot gear manning deserted streets.