Life paralysed for third day in south Kashmir against civilian killings

Srinagar, Jun 19: Normal life remained affected for the third day today in entire south Kashmir over protest against the killing of three civilians and as many militants since Friday. Officials told UNI that there were no restrictions imposed in any part of the valley today though security forces remained deployed in strength to thwart any violence.

Even though there was no strike called by separatists, majority of the shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads for the third day today in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir. However, some shopkeepers have opened up their shutters at few places, particularly in the interior parts of south Kashmir, where few private vehicles, besides cabs could be seen plying on some routes, particularly inter-district roads.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in the main town of district Anantnag on the 23rd death anniversary of Mirwaiz south Kashmir Dr Qazi Nisar. To prevent any protests or violence, a large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in Anantnag.

Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were also seen patrolling the streets in other major town and tehsil headquarters in south Kashmir to prevent any untoward incident. However, traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was plying normally though security forces have been deployed in strength to prevent any law and order problem.

The situation in south Kashmir has witnessed major improvement after fresh spell of violence, triggered by the killing of three youths in security force firing and as many militants in an encounter on Friday. A youth succumbed to his injuries on Friday last in a security force firing on protestors at Rengreth on Srinagar-old Airport road on Thursday.

Meanwhile, two youths, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed and several others injured on Friday when security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to firing to disperse protestors, who were trying to disrupt anti-militant operation at Arwani in south Kashmir, where three Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including top commander Junaid Mattoo, were killed in an encounter.