A Kashmiri woman walks past paramilitary troops during a shutdown in Srinagar, yesterday.
Srinagar: Life across the Kashmir Valley was affected yesterday by a separatist shutdown called to protest the alleged killing of two people by security forces in north Kashmir’s Bandipora a day ago.
Educational institutions, markets, other businesses and public transport remained suspended in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley because of the shutdown.
In a late evening development, a Jammu and Kashmir Police constable and three separatist guerrillas were killed in a day long gunfight between security forces and the militants in Pulwama district, a defence official said.
Private transporters were running skeletal services on city roads and in some other places in the Valley yesterday. Government offices, post offices and banks functioned normally, despite the shutdown call.
Meanwhile, the annual Amarnath Yatra that started June 28 proceeded normally from both the south and north Kashmir routes.
Around 7,000 pilgrims were allowed by the authorities to proceed from north Kashmir Baltal base camp, and an equal number from the south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp towards the cave shrine yesterday.
An 18-year-old student, Irfan Nabi Ganai, was killed in Markundal village of Bandipora district Sunday morning. Locals alleged that the counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles troopers were involved in the killing.
The boy had only emerged from his house at around 3.30am after rumours spread of thieves on the prowl in the village.
One person was killed in firing by security forces on a stone-pelting mob that was carrying the body of the slain student.
The police has registered a murder FIR in the incident. The government has ordered Director General of Police Ashok Prasad to personally supervise the investigations.
The army said a probe had been ordered and anyone found guilty would be punished.
Major General R R Nimbhorkar, general officer commanding of the army’s Victor Force, told a media conference Sunday that the army condoled the death of the two people. He said that if any troopers are found guilty, they would be punished.
The condemnation of the killings has been widespread — the ruling National Conference, the opposition People’s Democratic Party and the Congress have all condoled the deaths and blamed the army for the firing
incident.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was to give away prizes to winners of the Mughal Road Car Rally Sunday, cancelled the appointment following the tragic incident.
IANS
