SRINAGAR : Taking no chance, authorities continued curfew restrictions in about half-a-dozen towns in south Kashmir following two-day general strike called by breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) from today in protest against the death of five people, allegedly in security force firing on September 7 and 11.
The state government ordered magisterial inquiry killings and also ordered replacing CRPF by state police in the Gagran camp.
However, government said a Judicial inquiry, to be conducted by a sitting judge of the High Court, may be ordered in case the facts were not established.
Officials said curfew imposed in Shopian and Gagran towns in Shopian district, Kulgam and Kohimoh in Kulgam district and Pulwama and Kakpora in Pulwama district since early September 12 continued without any relaxation.
The restrictions were also being implemented strictly in Radwani and Khudwani in Kulgam district, they said.
Additional security force and police personnel also remained deployed in curfew free areas in south Kashmir to maintain law and order.
Residents of curfew bound areas alleged that they are facing acute shortage of essentials, including medicine and milk because of curfew restrictions.
However, the district administration has asked people to contact police in case of any emergency.
This is the peak fruit season in south Kashmir and we are not being allowed to go to our orchards, they said adding this will result in great losses.
The restrictions were imposed following death of a school bus driver when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators at Gagran, who were demanding removal of CRPF camp, allegedly involved in the death of four people on September 7.
Police confirmed that three of the youths killed in CRPF firing had no previous militancy record while the fourth a non-local was a militant of Lahker-e-Toiba (LeT).
However, a senior Congress leader and former minister Ghulam Hassan Khan alleged that the fourth deceased was a Bihari labourer, who was killed as he was witnessed to killing of three local youths by CRPF without any provocation.
Following massive protests, authorities clamped curfew in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam on September 8. However, curfew restrictions were lifted early September 10 morning.
The Communist Party of India (M) State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami has demanded time bound judicial probe into killing of four youths while Congress, a partner in the coalition government too has urged state government to come out with facts about the incident.
Main oppoisition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was prevented from visiting Shopian on September 12 and was sent back to Srinagar from Pulwama by authorities.
However, PDP leaders and supporters, led by Ms Mehbooba took to streets in the civil lines yesterday against the Shopian killings.
Police however, foiled Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) ‘ Lal Chowk Challo’ yesterday.
(AGENCIES)
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