Shutdown enters day 3 in parts of Kupwara

Srinagar, Aug 13: A complete shutdown is being observed for the third successive day in Langate and adjoining areas in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara, where people are demanding body of a ‘local’ militant killed during an encounter in Rafiabad woods last week.

Claiming that one of the five militants killed in the encounter with security forces on August 8 in the woods of Rafiabad in Baramulla was their son, the family is demanding the body of the slain ultra.

Meanwhile, the police have collected blood samples of the family members to match it with the sample of the slain militant.

However, shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads for the third successive day in Langate and adjoining areas in Kupwara on Monday in support of the demand of the family.

Work in government offices and banks was also affected due to strike. Most of the educational institutions also remained closed while some schools witnessed very low attendance.

Five militants were killed and a soldier was injured in a day-long encounter which ensued after troops launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the woods in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on August 8.

After watching the pictures of the slain militants on social media and newspapers, a family, resident of Langate, claimed that one of the ultras was their missing son. The family approached the police demanding the militant's body for last rites.