Srinagar, Dec 31 (UNI) Normal life was on Thursday crippled as shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.
Meanwhile, mobile internet services remained suspended as precautionary measures in south and some parts of central Kashmir since Wednesday, when three alleged militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar outskirts.
The strike was observed in Pulwama in support of the claims of the families and relatives of the slain youth that they are innocent and killed in staged encounter.
However, refuting the allegations, a police spokesperson said that generally parents don’t have idea about the activities of their wards. “Several OGWs after committing terror crimes like grenade throwing & pistol shooting etc stay normally with their family. Although the three killed militants in Srinagar encounter were not mentioned in our list of militants, yet two of them are hardcore associates of militants,” he said.
Following allegations by the families, the mainstream political parties, including National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and CPI(M), have demanded thorough investigation into the encounter.
Even though there was no strike call given by any organization, shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in Pulwama. However, some private vehicles were plying on the roads.
Mobile internet services were suspended as a precautionary measure in all four districts of south Kashmir and parts of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, including Charar-i-Sharief.
CPI(M) senior leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said the incident of killing of three persons in Hokersar area of Lawayapora in Srinagar needs a judicial probe as the families of the slain persons have refuted the allegations of the security forces that they were militants. “There are unverified reports that they were killed in a fake encounter. If true, this is shocking and must be probed by a sitting High Court judge. The circumstances in which the killings happened need to be thoroughly probed,” he added.
The family members and relatives of the three slain youth assembled outside Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar and staged a protest, claiming that trio left their respective homes on Tuesday to submit examination forms. “The trio yesterday left home to submit examination forms in the University. My brother left home for the first time after three months as he had undergone an operation. He went out because he had to submit form. They must have picked him up from the road,” the sister of one of the slain, identified as Ajaz Maqbool, told reporters.
“The other two boys with him were Ajaz Mushtaq and Athar,” she added.
The family members of other two slain youth also protested and claimed that they were innocent.
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