Shopian shootout: 2 militants, 4 civilians killed, Death toll 6

Srinagar: Normal life was disrupted across Kashmir Valley after the killing of two militants and four civilians dubbed as over ground workers (OGWs) by army and subsequent shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership.
One militant and four civilians were killed in Pahnoo Shopian while the body of another militant was found in Saidipora village of the same district.
Army said four civilians were over ground workers while locals said only one was militant rest were civilians. Police identified the slain persons as militant Amir Ahmed Malik son of Bashir Ahmed of Hermain, civilian Suhail Ahmed Wagay, son of Khalid Ahmed of Pinjora, Shahid Khan son of Bashir Ahmed of Malikgund, Shahnawaz Wagay son of Ali Muhammad and Gowhar Ahmed Lone both residents of Muloo Trenz.
The body of a militant Ashiq Ahmed Bhat according to police was recovered from an orchard in Saidipora village of Shopian.
Reports said that shops and business establishment remained shut while old Srinagar city reeled under strict restrictions. Authorities had closed educational institutions and postponed all the examinations in wake of the prevailing situation. To thwart possible protests against these killings, government forces had been deployed in large numbers in restive places.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was arrested and shifted to Central Jail Srinagar after he tried to lead a protest march against Shopian killings Monday afternoon.
Joint Resistance Leadership had called for a protest march. Though Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remained under house detention, Malik tried to carry out protest from Maisuma locality of Srinagar city along with other activists.
Police swung into action and besides Malik detained dozens of pro-freedom activists. Malik was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar later in the day. Reports said that minor clashes erupted in Natipora, Lasjan and Rainawari area of city.
Clashes erupted between protestors and government in central Kashmir’s Budgam district as well. Reports said protests erupted in several areas of the district including Chadoora, Kralpora and Machoowa.
They said that youth, angered over the killings, took to streets and clashes with the forces deployed in their areas.
Reports said that amid pro-freedom slogans, thousands of mourners participated in the last rites of four slain youth and two militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Reports added that thousands of people held pro-freedom protests in several villages of the district while a large number of people visited to the victims native villages to express sympathies with the bereaved families.
Back to back funeral processions are being held for the slain youth in their native villages, reports said. Women were seen beating their chests and throwing flower petals and sweets on the bodies of slain youth.
Clashes erupted in various parts of district Kulgam.Local sources said that stone-throwing incidents were reported from Khudwani, Malpora Mirbazar areas of the district. They said that forces used heavy tear smoke shells to disperse the protesting youth.
Protests erupted in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district against these killings while police detained over a dozen students after they clashed with the deployed forces.
Reports said that a large number of students from different coaching centres assembled near KP Road while amid pro-freedom slogans pelted stones on deployed forces who retaliated with tear-smoke shells.
Eyewitnesses said that police arrested over a dozen students during these clashes.
A protest march was held by legislator Engineer Rasheed. He led this protest march in Handwara town of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The protesters chanted anti-army slogans and demanded stringent punishment for those involved in the killing of innocent civilians.
Clashes also erupted at Palhalan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Locals who took to roads to stage protest against Shopian killings hurled rocks on the deployed government forces who retaliated with tear-smoke shelling. A police official said that situation remained peaceful across Valley.