Musa killing: Curfew continues in parts of Kashmir for second day

Press Trust of India  |  Srinagar 

Curfew continued in parts of for a second day Saturday following killing of Zakir Musa, the of an afiliated group, in an encounter with security forces in district Friday.

Schools and colleges remained shut, while continued to be suspended across the valley. Trains on the Baramulla-Banihal line remained off the tracks due to the situation, the officials said.

"Curfew continued to remain imposed in parts of the valley today (Saturday) as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order," they said.

In Srinagar, the officials said, "strict restrictions" were in place in Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, station areas, while "partial restrictions" were in force in Maisuma and Kralkhud areas.

The officials said security forces have been deployed in strength in other parts of the valley to avoid any untoward incident.

Musa, the of the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, was killed in the encounter at Dadsara village of Tral in the south Kashmir's district on Friday after forces launched a on late Thursday evening following specific information about the presence of militants there.

The officials said efforts were made to make Musa surrender, but the request fell on deaf ears and he lobbed grenades on the forces using a launcher, triggering a gunfight in which Musa was killed in the early hours of Friday.

His killing led to spontaneous shutdown and protests in the valley.

Meanwhile, most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remained shut in the valley due to a strike called by hardline against the killing of Musa and a civilian Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of who was killed by unidentified gunmen on Thursday, the officials said.

They said public transport was off the roads, but few private cars and auto-rickshaws were seen plying.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, May 25 2019. 10:50 IST