Kashmir shuts against Shopian killings, shifting of prisoners

Srinagar, Mar 07: A complete shutdown was observed on Wednesday in Kashmir against the shifting of prisoners from Kashmir to outside jails and the recent civilian killings in a shootout by army in Shopian
The shutdown call had been given by the Joint Hurriyat, a conglomerate of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik. The leaders had also called a protest march to Shopian.
Authorities foiled the scheduled ‘march’ clamping curfew-like situation in and around Syed Ali Geelani’s residence, said a Hurriyat (G) spokesman.
The spokesman said that all the roads leading to the leader’s residence were sealed by government forces including police and CRPF while they had also erected barricades outside the office.
“Geelani Sahab came out of his residence-cum-office at 12:15 noon, but the police and CRPF didn’t allow him to visit Shopian. It is to also mention here that the even office employees were not allowed to attend the Office,” said the spokesman.
Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too was detained on Wednesday after he defied his house detention and tried to march towards Shopian.
Mirwaiz came out of his residence at Nigeen in Srinagar and tried to march towards Shopian.
However, a police party detained the Mirwaiz and lodged him at Nigeen police station.
JKLF Chief Yasin Malik was already arrested and lodged at Srinagar Central Jail on Monday.
Reports said that all the business establishments, government and private offices were closed and traffic was office the roads in all the major district townships of the Valley.
Authorities had sealed all the roads leading to Shopian district and imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC in some parts of Srinagar ahead of the ‘Shopian Chalo’ call.
Reports of protests were received from several areas.
A police official said that overall the situation remained peaceful in the twin districts.
“There were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the valley although some stray stone pelting incidents were reported from some places,” he said.
The Srinagar Banihal train services too were suspended while 4G internet connectivity in South Kashmir remained suspended on the 3rd consecutive day. A huge posse of government forces was deployed in various sensitive areas to maintain ‘law and order’.
Schools, colleges and universities were closed and all examinations scheduled for Wednesday had to be postponed.
However, at Kashmir University (KU), students staged protest demonstrations.
Reports said that scores of students of Zakura campus took out a protest march from the hostel up to Zakura crossing.
The students holding placards in their hands which read, “Stop Innocent Killings”.
The demonstrators dispersed later dispersed peacefully.
Markets, public transport and other businesses remained closed in Srinagar city and other district headquarters of the valley, while private transport moved in areas not placed under restrictions.
Earlier, police had also issued an advisory and sought the cooperation of people to maintain “order and peace”, in wake of the protest march towards Shopian.
“Also South Kashmir particularly in Shopian restriction has been placed. General Public is requested not to pay attention to any rumours,” a police spokesperson said in its statement.
On Sunday, four youths and two militants were killed in army firing at Pahnoo village of Shopian. While army had said the youth were accompanying the militants and were killed in an encounter along with them and police had said it was investigating the matter. The chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had said the youth were “caught in the crossfire”.