Day 2: Kashmir shuts against civilian killings

Srinagar/April,8: Amid clashes and protests, Kashmir Valley witnessed a complete shutdown for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to mourn the killing of 8 civilians. The two days call for shutdown has been forwarded by joint Resistance leadership including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Shut down was also observed in Chenab valley in solidarity with the bereave families of Kashmiri youth who were killed in clashes in different parts of Srinagar parliamentary constituency on last Sunday
At least 8 civilians whose age group ranged from 15 to 25 were killed on polling day on Sunday in Central Kashmir while over 50 protesters were wounded during day long clashes between protesters and Government Forces. The violent incidents were mostly reported from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district while a youth was also killed in Ganderbal district in BSF firing on Sunday evening.
All the shops and business establishments, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained shut while transport was off the roads. Besides, Srinagar, complete shutdown was observed in other parts of Valley as well.
Both in civil lines and downtown areas of Srinagar city observed a complete shutdown though vendors in some parts of the city were seen doing normal business. Authorities had made all the arrangements to deal with any kind of situation while heavy contingent of government forces personnel were deployed in restive areas of the city.
In Qamarwari area of Srinagar, large number of people participated in the last rites of Ali Muhammad Dagga, a driver by profession who was killed after he lost control over his vehicle near Tengpora Batamloo and collided with an electric pole after he was hit by a stone during clashes between protesters and government forces. The mourners according to reports chanted pro-freedom slogans.
Reports from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district said that two restaurants were gutted in a mysterious fire in Khag town on Monday night. A police official said a formal case has been registered and investigation has been set into motion in this regard. He refuted the reports that the restaurants were set on fire for defying Hurriyat sponsored shutdown call.
At least four passengers including the conductor of the bus (JK09-357D) were wounded when some youth attacked it with stones near Takipora Sopora in Baramullah district. “The situation remained peaceful across Valley,” said a police official.
Meanwhile reports received from different parts of Chenab valley said that to lodge their protest against innocent civilian killings in Kashmir, attack on Rohingya Muslim refugees in Jammu and increasing influence of RSS-backed government employees in Chenab Valley, Muslims in Bhadarwah, Kishtwar towns and Khari tehsil of Ramban district in Chenab Valley on Tuesday observed a shutdown.
The shutdown affected normal life as majority of the shops and business establishments and educational institutions remained shut. The shutdown call was forwarded by Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah and Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar.
Reports said that a complete shutdown was observed in different parts of Badharwah including Ghata,Satangal, Athkar, Bahla and Tandi. In Kishtwar also, according to reports a complete shutdown was observed. Elaborate security arrangements were made in all the major towns of district including Doda, Thathri, Gandoh, Kahara and Bhadarwah.