Separatists on Sunday called a shutdown to protest the civilian killings a day before in Pulwama district paralyzing life across the Kashmir Valley.

The shutdown has been called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) separatist conglomerate.

Advertisement

Authorities have imposed restrictions in Pulwama and parts of Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir as a precautionary measure in view of the strike called by separatists.

Restrictions under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in Pulwama district of south Kashmir and six police station areas of Srinagar the summer capital of the state, officials said.

The officials said the restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident.

On Saturday, seven civilians were killed and over 35 others injured in clashes with the security forces which broke out in Pulwama district’s Sirnoo village immediately after a gunfight in the area.

Three militants were killed in the encounter in which a soldier also lost his life while two other Army men were injured.

Public transport remained off the streets across the valley on Sunday as authorities made heavy security deployment to maintain law and order.

High tension continued for the second day in the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian where the impact of the protest shutdown was maximum.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has ordered a probe into Saturday’s killings led by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan.

On Monday, the separatists have called a protest march to the Badami Bagh headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps in Srinagar.

Senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq have been placed under house arrest while Muhammad Yasin Malik has gone underground to avoid detention.

Meanwhile, shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in the city due to the strike, the officials said.

The weekly flea market was also shut, the officials said, adding, similar reports of shutdown were received from other district headquarters of the valley.

(With agency inputs)