Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 16: Curfew imposed in major South Kashmir towns after widespread protests against the killing of 5 persons in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing continued in Shopian for fifth consecutive day today. However, it was lifted from the other towns this morning.
A police spokesman said here that only Shopian town continued to be under curfew, while it has been lifted from all other places. “The restrictions were lifted from Kulgam, Pulwama and Kakpora towns following improvement in the situation”, the spokesman added.
Curfew was first clamped in Shopian district on September 8, following widespread clashes after the killing of four persons in CRPF firing a day earlier.
The prohibitory orders were then lifted on September 11, but curfew was re-imposed in the town next day following clashes between the protestors and security forces which led to the killing of another youth in security force firing taking the toll to five.
As the restrictions were lifted in Pulwama, Kulgam, Kakpora and other major towns after four days the life returned to normal. Shops, business establishments, schools and Government offices opened in these towns after four days.
However, residents of Shopian said that town has been shut for past 10 days since the killing of four persons in CRPF firing at Gagran village. They said that the residents of facing acute shortage of essentials due to continued curfew.
In the meantime Special Director General of CRPF, Dileep Pathak today visited Gagran CRPF camp whose personnel killed five persons. He held meeting with the CRPF officers of the camp and SSP Shopian.
Meanwhile, life returned to normal in other parts of Kashmir valley after two days of separatists’ sponsored strike to protest the killings.
Shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, offices and educational institutions functioned normally in Srinagar city and other major towns across the Valley. Public transport was also back on the roads.
The chairman of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Syeed Ali Shah Geelani has called for strike across Kashmir on Saturday (September 21), protests after Friday (September 20) prayers and March to United Nations Military Observers Office in Sonwar from Hyderpora on Wednesday (September 18) against the killings.
In the meantime, the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian issued a notice in which the centre for the written test held by Service Selection Board on September 17 has been shifted from Government Degree College, Shopian to Rainbow International School Batapora, Shopian. The college is near the CRPF camp and centre of the trouble that started on September 7.
As per the notification examination police and security personnel have been instructed to treat the Identity Cards of the examination staff and the Admit cards of the candidates as curfew passes for conduct of examination, appearing in the examination in case the curfew continues in the town tomorrow.
In Shopian district as many as 4483 candidates are to appear at 12 examination centres.
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