Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city and some other places in the Kashmir valley on Sunday to prevent a protest called by the separatists to mark the second death anniversary of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.
Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on 8 July 2016 in Kokernag area of Anantnag district. His killing had triggered massive protests and prolonged period of curfews and shutdowns across the Valley.
Following the shutdown call, senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq were placed under house arrest. Muhammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody.
“Restrictions will remain in force in areas under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal police stations in old city Srinagar,” the police said.
“Partial restrictions will remain in areas under the jurisdiction of Kralkhud and Maisuma police stations.”
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Restrictions continued for the second day today in Tral, Wani’s ancestral home town.Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were deployed in sensitive areas in Srinagar and other district headquarters.
Mobile internet services were suspended throughout the Valley while the speed of fixed line broadband connections was slashed.
The situation in Kashmir took a turn for worse on Saturday as three civilians, including a 16-year-old girl, were killed allegedly in firing by the security forces during clashes with stone-pelting protesters in Kulgam.
The incident took place in Hawoora Mishipora village in Qoimoh area of Kulgam in South Kashmir.
According to reports, a mob resorted to stone-pelting in a bid to disrupt an anti-terror operation by security forces who had cordoned off the area following inputs that a group of militants was hiding in Kulgam, some 70 km from south of Srinagar.
The clash with the security forces left ten civilians injured who were immediately rushed to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Frisal where doctors declared three of them dead on arrival.
The deceased were identified as Andleeb (16), Shakir Ahmad (22) and Irshad Ahmad (20).
As news about the death of the three youth spread, protestors in certain other parts of the valley blocked roads and pelted stones at the security forces that were already deployed in strength in view of the two days shutdown call given by separatists.
(With agency inputs)