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Shutdown against civilian killings paralyses life in Kashmir amid clashes

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/30/2017 10:16:23 AM

SRINAGAR, Mar 29: Normal life was paralysed in Kashmir today in view of a general strike against the killing of three civilians in security forces firing on protestors in Chadoora yesterday. Clashes also occurred at several places between security forces and protestors, during which security men fired pellets, burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge.
The call for today’s strike was jointly given by senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammed Yasin Malik.
Three persons, Zahid Rashid, Aamir Fayaz and Ishfaq Ahmad were killed in forces’ firing on protestors during a crack down at Durbagh village in Chadoora. An encounter had occurred in village which led to the killing of a militant from Kulgam area. He was identified as Touseef Ahmad Wagay.
Due to the strike today, shops and other business and educational institutions remained closed. Government offices either remained closed or registered thin attendance of employees.
Public transport remained off the roads while private transport plied in some parts of Srinagar city. A complete shutdown was observed in other parts of Kashmir as well. Authorities had made heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces to prevent protest rallies in Chadoora town. Authorities had imposed some restrictions in some parts of Srinagar city to stop protests.
The impact of shutdown was felt in all the districts of valley including Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora. Reports said complete shutdown was observed in Chadoora, Nagam, Budgam, Beerwah, Aripanthan, Khag and Khansahab towns of the Budgam district while large number of people were seen visiting the houses of three victims to offer condolences.
Clashes between protesters and security forces were reported from many parts of valley including Srinagar city. A youth, who was identified as Abrar Ahmed Shah, was injured after he was hit be pellets in the head at Rawalpora Srinagar. Reports said that scores of youth resorted to stone-pelting while security forces used tear-smoke shells and pellets to disperse them. The youth were protesting against the killing of civilians in Chadoora. The wounded youth was shifted to SMHS hospital shortly after being hit by pellets. Reports said that youth in Saderkoot Bala area blocked Bandipora-Srinagar road to protest the killings.
Clashes were also reported from Parimpora, Elahi Bagh and Karan Nagar areas of Srinagar city. In North Kashmir, clashes were reported from main chowk Sopore while in Yaripora Kulgam of South Kashmir, youth also clashed with the government forces. Reports said that clashes erupted between protesters and government forces in Yaripora after slain Hizb militant Tauseef Ahmad Wagay’s funeral. Large number of people had travelled to his ancestral Kanjkul village of Yaripora to attend the last rites. Witnesses said that clashes erupted near Police Station Yaripora. Funeral prayers for the slain militant were offered multiple times to accommodate thousands of people turning from various villages and towns in south Kashmir.
Meanwhile, funeral prayers in absentia were held in Ajas village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district for the militant and three civilians shot dead by forces in Chadoora on Tuesday. Reports said scores of people gathered in the lawns of central Jamia Masjid Ajas after Zuhr prayers to offer funeral prayers in absentia for the youth.
Later, they held a peaceful protest rally in main chowk Ajas carrying placards denouncing civilian killings.
At Goriwan Bijbehara, security forces resorted to tear-gas shelling to disperse the protesting youth. The clashes between forces and protesters continued for hours.
Reports said that clashes erupted in Palhallan and Old town areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. While the protesters hurled rocks, the forces responded by bursting teargas shells.
In view of the volatile situation in the valley post the Chadoora killings, Railway services remained suspended throughout Kashmir on Wednesday, official sources said.
In the wake of the shutdown called by the separatist leaders against the casualties and injuries during the protests that occurred on the sidelines of Chadoora encounter, the railway services from Baramulla to Banihal have been suspended, read an official order.