Shopian shuts on fifth straight day to mourn killings

Srinagar:A complete shutdown is being observed on the fifth straight day Friday in south Kashmir’s Shopian district against the recent civilian and militant killings.
All shops, business establishments, government and private offices remained closed in the district while public transport was off the roads. On Sunday evening, four civilians and two militants were killed in army firing at Pahnoo village.
While the locals said the civilians were killed in cold blood, army said they retaliated after their vehicle was fired at by militants.
After the culmination of Friday prayers, people thronged the residences of slain civilians and militants to express sympathy and solidarity with their families. Contingents of police and CRPF troopers are deployed at sensitive locations in the district to thwart any “element of violence”, an official said.