Srinagar, May 17 (KNO) : To register the anger and protest against the fresh spate of militant and civilian killings in Kashmir and Bhaderwah district of Jammu region, a complete strike was observed in Kashmir and parts of Chenab valley on the call of Joint Resistance Leadershp (JRL).
The Srinagar administration had imposed strict curfew in downtown parts while as Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid was disallowed by the authorities as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also not allowed to proceed towards Jamia Masjid.
Witnesses told KNO that the shutdown call evoked total response. They said that all the shops, educational institutions and other commercial establishments are closed across the valley. Thin movement of traffic is seen on roads. In Srinagar, restrictions were imposed in the old city and armed forces have been deployed at the entry and exit points.
In South Kashmir and North Kashmir’s district, the shutdown call evoked total response as all commercial, private and other establishments remained shut for the day in protest against the civilian killings. On Thursday in two separate gun battles, five militants, two civilians and two soldiers were killed in Pulwama and Shopian. Earlier, a youth Arshid Ahmed Dar of Pattan area of Baramulla who had sustained grave head injuries, also succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS, Soura on Wednesday.
The authorities had imposed strict curbs in downtown parts as police and CRPF men were deployed in length to ensure that no Friday congregational prayers take place at the historic Jamia Masjid. Strict restrictions remained in place in Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safa Kadal areas of downtown.
Meanwhile, University of Kashmir, Central University Kashmir (CUK) and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) had suspended examinations and entrance tests while there will be no class work in other educational institutions in the valley. Also, the Kashmir University has postponed the entrance test which was scheduled to be held on Friday.
Joint Resistance Leadership in a statement on Friday had said “Even in the holy month of Ramadhan there is no let-up in killings and bloodshed in Kashmir as civilians, armed youth or even Indian forces are getting killed.”(KNO)