Life comes to a standstill in Kashmir over Shopian deaths

People raise slogans during the funeral procession of a civilian killed in the recent clashes with security forces, in Pulwama district south Kashmir on Sunday.

People raise slogans during the funeral procession of a civilian killed in the recent clashes with security forces, in Pulwama district south Kashmir on Sunday.   | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

The Valley's authorities closed down all educational institutes in the wake of separatists call for a protest march towards Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

The Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown on Monday to protest the deaths of five civilians in Shopian during clashes between protesters and security forces a day earlier. The clashes were triggered after five militants were killed in an encounter in the district on Sunday.

The Valley's authorities closed down all educational institutes in the wake of separatists call for a protest march towards Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

“The decision to close down all educational institutes across Kashmir has been taken in view of the prevailing situation in Kashmir,” said Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Baseer Ahmad Khan.

Kashmir University has decided to close down the varsity for two days. The varsity’s assistant professor Mohammad Rafi Bhat, 33, was among the five militants killed in Shopian on Sunday.

 

High-speed mobile phone internet service has been stopped. Train services have also been suspended.

The separatists’ call for the shutdown affected life in the Valley. There was a thin traffic on the roads. Markets, banks and petrol pumps were closed in the morning.

The Srinagar administration also imposed curfew-like restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in seven police stations, which included Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud.

The separatists had also called for “a peaceful sit-in” outside Srinagar’s Civil Secretariat, which is opening after six months as part of the annual shift of capital from Jammu to Srinagar.

“Allah has sent us to Earth to live a good life. Islam doesn’t permit us to embrace death at this [young] age,” said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her speech made on the inaugural function of the opening of summer capital in Srinagar.

Tension prevailed in the Kashmir Valley for third consecutive day on Monday over 17 deaths, including nine civilians since Saturday in separate militancy-related incidents.