Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 24: A partial shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley today against the killing of three Hizbul Mujahideen militants and two of them were buried amid protests and clashes. Three persons were injured in the day-long stone-throwing between protesters and security forces.
The call for shutdown was given by hardline Hurriyat chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani last night against the killing of newly recruited three local militants hailing from Bijbehera area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The three militants, Sartaj Ahmad Lone, Adil Ahmad Sheikh and Tanveer Ahamd Bhat were killed yesterday in a brief encounter with security forces at Aishmuqam area of the Anantnag district. Though Sartaj Ahmad was buried last evening but two other militants were buried today.
Thousands of people gathered for the funeral of the Hizb duo at Bijbehera Town in a local park.
Soon after the funeral was over, hundreds of protesters pelted stones on security forces at Bijbehara along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The security forces responded by firing dozens of teargas shells and also fired in air to disperse the protesters. The day-long clashes left three persons injured.
Protesters also pelted stones on the ancestral house of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while a Pakistani flag was also hoisted over it. Due to protests and clashes, the train services remained suspended today.
Elsewhere, a partial shutdown was observed against militant killings. In city here, some of the shops were open in downtown as well as civil lines markets including Lal Chowk. The public and private transport was running smoothly on majority of routes. However, the schools and colleges were shut.
The impact of the shutdown was high in South Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama. Reports from other districts of the Valley said the shutdown evoked mixed response.
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