The people of Kashmir on Thursday observed a complete shutdown against the killing of four civilians at the hands of government forces on Wednesday at Khudwani Kulgam. To maintain law and order the authorities places strict restriction in parts of Srinagar city including at the Old City. The Mobile internet was also snapped in many part of the valley including in north and south areas of Kashmir.
Life in Kashmir was crippled on Wednesday as shop and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in valley due to a day-long strike called by JRL against the killing of civilians in security force firing. The government in a bid to maintain law and order imposed curfew-like restrictions in parts of summer capital Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of eight police stations and in parts of South Kashmir. The tourist hub in Kashmir Boulevard Road presented a deserted view. On the call of JRL, a peaceful protest was held at Eidgah area of downtown despite curbs.
The protest was taken out by the APHC leaders and activists that include Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, Sahil Ahmed War, Farooq Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed Pandit, and others, against the civilian killings at Khudwani in Kulgam. The protestors made it clear that using military might and resorting to repressive measures that includes killing, maiming and thrashing people, won’t deter the resolve of people of Kashmir and instead they would intensify their efforts to seek the final settlement of Kashmir issue.
Meanwhile the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik on Thursday called for peaceful Kashmir-wide protests after Friday congregational prayers against killing of civilians, indiscriminate use of pellet and vandalising of properties and impressed all sections of society including Aema Masajid, teachers, lawyers, intellectuals, civil societies, traders, students, state employees for their participation against ‘state sponsored terrorism.’ Pertinently, 4 civilians and 1 Army man was killed on Wednesday in an encounter in Kudwani Kulgam south Kashmir. The incident came after 10 days following four civilians and 13 local militants’ were killed in Shopian on April 1st.