Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 31: Kashmir valley today observed shutdown against Army’s decision to close the Pathribal fake encounter case of killing of five innocent persons by Army.
Shops, business establishments were closed down and public transport was off the roads, but some private vehicles were plying.
Work in courts was also affected as Kashmir High Court Bar Association has supported the strike call.
The shutdown was called by separatists over the closure of Pathribal fake encounter case by Army in which CBI had indicted five Army men of “killing civilians in cold blood” after 35 Sikhs were massacred in Chatisingpora in South Kashmir’s Anantnag in 2000.
Protests erupted in various parts of the Valley after Friday prayers. Stone pelting was reported from Rajouri Kadal and Nowhatta areas of old city Srinagar.
Stone pelting was also reported in South Kashmir’s Pulwama town as youth clashed with security forces in Murran Chowk and Rajpora Chowk.
Police fired teargas and pellets toward protestors to disperse them in which several youth received minor injuries.
Protests were also reported from various parts of south and north Kashmir including Sopore, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ananatnag, Charari Sharief and various other towns and villages.
Hundreds of villagers of Brari Aangan village in south Kashmir Anantnag district also staged a protest against the Army decision. Villagers assembled in the local Jamia Masjid after prayers.
The protesters accused the mainstream political parties of playing politics with their dead relatives.
“National Conference, Peoples’ Democratic Party or Congress never bothered to initiate any inquiry into the Pathribal or Chatisingpora incident during their tenure and now they are beating their chest,” the protesters said.
The protest culminated at the graveyard dedicated to the martyrs of Pathribal and Brakpora where a Fateh-Khwani was offered for the victims.
A police spokesman said: “Situation remained normal throughout the Valley. However, isolated minor stone pelting by some miscreants was reported after Friday prayers from Saraf Kadal Srinagar, Sopore Chowk and Bandipora. However, no one was hurt till reports last came in.”
Meanwhile, a local court today directed the Army to furnish a copy of the judgement pertaining to its decision to close the Pathribal fake encounter case, observing that the contentions raised in a petition against it were “genuine”.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Rajiv Gupta issued the order on the petition filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association.
“Contentions raised are genuine and well founded and are bracketed with the principles of fair trial and natural justice.
It is therefore, deemed expedient to direct Brigadier Adjutant to reply to this motion or in the alternative furnish copies of the judgment along with copies of chargesheet and documents annexed therewith before the next date,” Gupta said in the order.
He said these documents will form part of the information rendered to the Court in the case which was furnished to this court pursuant to conclusion of General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings by the competent military authority.
The Court has listed the case for next hearing on February 10.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel