(Rptg, correcting headline)
Srinagar, Jan 1 (UNI) Shops and business establishments were on Friday closed in most parts of the summer capital, Srinagar, due to a spontaneous strike in support of demand for impartial and time- bound inquiry into Srinagar encounter in which three alleged militants were killed by security forces.
Meanwhile, all political parties, including National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, CPI(M) and Apni Party, have sought an investigation after the families of the slain claimed that they were innocent and killed in a staged encounter.
Despite no strike call given by any organization, shops and business establishments were closed in downtown, civil lines and parts of uptown in Srinagar. However, traffic was plying normally on roads on the city, where additional security forces have been deployed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Business and other activities were crippled in main business hubs of the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve-centre of summer capital, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Moulana Azad Road, Residency Road and Dalgate. Roadside vendors, selling vegetables and fruit were seen in the civil lines.
Shops and business establishments were also closed in downtown, including Jamia market, Gojwara and Habbakadal.
The families and relatives of the slain youth claimed that they are innocent and were killed in a staged encounter.
However, refuting the allegations, a police spokesperson said 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 associates of militants,” he said.
The family members and relatives of the three slain youth assembled outside Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar and staged a protest on Wednesday, 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.
UNI ABS SB 1700