Shopian town and adjoining areas observed a shutdown for the second consecutive day today in protest against the killings of two militants and four civilians in a shootout on Sunday night in Pahnoo area of the south Kashmir district. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Shopian while transport remained off the roads, a police official said.
Life in rest of the valley returned to normal after yesterday's strike called by the separatists against the killings in the incident. While the locals said the civilians were killed in cold blood, army said they retaliated after their vehicle was fired at by the militants. An official said that three civilians were accompanying a militant who fired at them from a car when they were signalled to stop at a checkpoint.Bodies of fourth civilian and another militant were found later.