Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 8: A shutdown was today observed in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir against the killing of three militants in two different encounters with security forces amid stone-throwing clashes.
All the shops and commercial establishments were closed in Pulwama and Shopian while traffic also remained off the routes. In order to prevent Thursday-like violence, the police had made stringent security arrangements.
Protesters and security forces clashed at Newa hamlet of Pulwama district and Shopian Town during which several persons sustained injuries. Police fired teargas and fired pellets towards the stone-throwers at Newa, witnesses said, adding that the clashes continued for several hours.
A protest was staged by locals of Kareemabad village of the Pulwama district against the ransacking of graveyard. They alleged that the security forces are behind the act. Police, however, denied the allegations. The locals said they were shocked to see the broken tomb stones, epitaphs and tin sheets when they woke up in the morning.
Superintendent of Police Pulwama, Rayees Ahmad said the security forces didn’t ransack graveyard and it could be the handiwork of miscreants. He said the police are investigating the matter and added that the police have also identified the miscreants who yesterday torched a mobile bunker at Kareemabad.
Meanwhile, police resorted to teargas shelling here in Nowhatta area of Old City after masked youths pelted stones on security forces and waved flags of Islamic State and Pakistan post-Friday prayers, the witnesses said. The clashes between the police and protesters continued for several hours but no one was reported to be injured.
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