Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 17: Curfew continued in South Kashmir township of Shopian for seventh consecutive day today and a three member team of State Government visited the town to assess the situation while police foiled a bid of senior leaders of Hurriyat Conference to march to curfew bound Shopian this afternoon.
Curfew continued for seventh consecutive day in Shopian town today, following clashes after the killing of five persons in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing on September 7 and September 11.
Police and paramilitary CRPF men, wearing riot gear and armed with automatic weapons were deployed in the town and its adjoining area to foil any attempt of protests by locals.
All the entry and exit points leading to Shopian town were sealed by police and CRPF. They had erected barricades and mobile bunkers at several places to foil any attempts of people to venture out.
Residents of Shopian alleged that CRPF men barged into several houses, ransacked household goods and beat up the inmates.
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said that curfew remained in force today to stop any untoward incident. He, however, said that district administration is facilitating the movement of essential commodities and medicines. He said that people can contact the administration any time through helpline numbers in case of any grievance.
In curfew bound Shopian, a large number of candidates appeared in the Service Selection Board (SSB) entrance test today after their admit cards were treated as curfew passes by the security forces who were deployed in the town.
The trouble in Shopian started after CRPF shot dead 4 persons on September 7 at Gagran in the outskirts of Shopian town and another one was shot dead allegedly by CRPF personnel on September 11.
After 11 days of continuous trouble and curfew, a high level Ministerial delegation headed by Minister for Haj, Auqaf and Floriculture, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and comprising Minister for Law, Mir Saiffullah, legislators, Nasir Aslam Wani, Bashir Ahmad Magray and Showket Ahmad Ganaie visited Shopian town today.
An official statement said here that the team had a detailed interaction with the civil society and public representatives regarding the prevailing law and order situation that arose after the firing incidents at the Gagran Camp.
“The delegation listened patiently to the demands of the civil society and assured them that immediate action shall be taken for the redressal of their grievances”, the statement said.
However, Coordination Committee Shopian comprising 14 different organizations including Bar Association Shopian, Auqaf Shopian, Fruit growers association, Citizen’s welfare society, Transporters, Pensioners Association, Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and Contractors Association refused to meet the delegation. Sources said that only local National Conference and Congress workers met the delegation.
In the meantime, police foiled an attempt made by Hurriyat Conference to march curfew bound Shopian town and detained its several leaders including its chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.
Mirwaz was detained as he came out of Hurriyat Conference headquarters to leave for Shopian that remained shut for 11 consecutive days. A large contingent of police men deployed outside the office detained him and his other associates including Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Javed Ahmad Mir, Hakim Abdul Rashid, Syed Bashir Andrabi, Imtiyaz Reshi, Moulvi Abdul Rashid and Mohammad Shafi.
Speaking on the occasion, Mirwaiz warned that that if curfew was not lifted from Shopian in next 24 hours, Hurriyat would appeal people to march towards Shopian enmass.
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