Amid restrictions valley mourns death of civilians
Srinagar: The district administration Srinagar on Saturday imposed restrictions in Srinagar parts while the rest of the Valley observed a complete shutdown to protest against the civilian killings in the Valley.
The strike call was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik days after the killing of Khudwani youth, appealing people to protest against the what they termed as the ‘ongoing genocide’ of Kashmiri youth.
Witnesses said that in view of the shutdown call restrictions were imposed in Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven Police Stations including Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud as ‘precautionary measure’.
Officials informed that the areas falling under the jurisdiction of two Police Stations including Kral Khud and Maisuma remained under partial restrictions.
Witnesses said that the authorities had deployed Police and paramilitary forces in large number in the restriction bound areas to thwart any possible protests called by the pro-freedom leaders.
They informed that the forces had erected concertina wires on the roads and were seen patrolling in armored vehicles till late evening hours.
The pedestrians as well as the commuters as per the local sources were being disallowed to move towards restriction bound areas.
Meanwhile, all the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and others establishments remained closed in the Valley while the traffic was also thin on the roads.
Sources said that the government offices also witnessed low attendance of the employees.
Earlier, a youth identified as Khalid Ahmad Shah of Khudwani area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was killed during the clashes in the area that erupted following the killing of a local Hizb militant in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.
The slain Hizb militant, Farhan Ahmad was a resident of Khudwani village, where the locals hit the streets soon after he was killed in an encounter.
The district administration later announced a probe into the killing of Khalid Shah and had urged the eye-witnesses to come forward and record their statements in this regard.
The final report of the probe will be submitted in a week’s time, the officials had said.
KV Correspondent
