Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Normal life was disrupted today due to shoutdown called by separatists against yesterday’s killings in South Kashmir and curfew like restrictions imposed in parts of Kashmir to prevent any flare up in violence.
Authorities today imposed restrictions in the sensitive parts of Kashmir. The call for the shutdown was given by separatist Hurriyat Conference in protest against the killings in three separate gun battles in Shopian and Anantnag districts yesterday.
Twenty people including 13 militants, 3 Army soldiers and 4 civilians were killed in three separate gun battles in South Kashmir yesterday while over 100 civilians were injured in clashes with security forces. Click here to watch video
And amid tight security clashes broke out at several places across Kashmir in which around 2 dozen protesters were injured.
Clashes took place at several parts in the Valley including Memendar, Zainapora, Kellar, Gool Chakri Shopian, Beerwah Budgam, Bandipora, Sumbal, Safapora, Soura, Parimpora, Pinglina Chowk Pulwama and Kulgam. Around 15 persons suffered minor injuries at Kulgam and Anantnag, at least six persons suffered pellet wounds at Gool Chakri.
A youth, Gowhar Ahmad Rather son of Abdul Rehman was injured in clashes at Kangan area today. He has been removed to SKIMS hospital in Soura Srinagar. “Today on 02-03-2018 a group of miscreants had gathered in Kangan market to pelt stones and disturb law and order in the area. A police party reached the spot on seeing which the Rahman Rather of Kangan fell down and injured his head on the edge of the drain,” a police spokesman said.
He said the injured person was taken to Trauma Hospital Kangan from where he was referred to SKIMS Soura. “Reports regarding bullet injury are completely false since no bullet was fired on the spot,” the spokesman added.
And the separatist leaders were either placed under house arrest or lodged in different police stations to prevent any protests. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chief Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai was placed under house arrest at his residence Baghat, Srinagar since yesterday.
Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar on three days judicial remand.
Life in Kashmir remained crippled today as all the commercial establishments, offices, Educational Institutes remained closed and traffic was off the roads in the Valley due to strike.
Authorities imposed curfew in district Kulgam in view of killings in South Kashmir, while the restrictions were imposed at several places across Kashmir. Restrictions were also imposed in parts of Srinagar city where roads were blocked by the security forces to prevent movement of people and vehicles.
Scores of traders this morning assembled in Lal Chowk and held a demonstration against the killings of four civilians in Shopian yesterday. MLA Langate Engineer Rashid and his dozens of supporters held a protest march in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar against the killings.
The Mobile internet service and Railway service remained suspended throughout Kashmir valley.
All examinations scheduled today were also postponed by all three universities including Kashmir University, Islamic University and Central University.
Meanwhile, the students of Kashmir University today offered funeral prayers in absentia for militants and civilians killed during three gunfights in Anantnag and Shopian districts yesterday.
Kashmir University today postponed all examinations scheduled for tomorrow. The varsity also suspended class work. “In view of concerns expressed by students, all Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held on April 3, 2018 (Tuesday) are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later,” read a statement issued by the KU. “Meanwhile, the classwork in the teaching departments shall remain suspended on April 3, 2018,” the statement added.
The Government has also decided to close all schools and colleges in Kashmir valley on Tuesday. A spokesman of the Education Department said that the decision has been taken as a “precautionary measure” to avoid law and order situation in the Valley.
The separatists today called for shutdown tomorrow (April 3) and march to Shopian on Wednesday (April 4) to express solidarity with the people and offer condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. They said separatist leaders will also address a public rally in Shopian.
In a statement issued here they said that the vengeful way that bullets and pellets were showered on protesting people left four people dead on spot while more than 50 sustained critical bullet injuries and are battling for life in hospitals. More than 200 people have been hit by pellets many among them in their eyes which can lead to blindness as has been witnessed.
They said scenes at the hospital are heart wrenching as the injured writhing in pain have horrific episodes to tell. They said Mushtaq Ahmed Thakur was used as a human shield by the security forces and was killed.
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