Army school set ablaze in J&K

Normal life across the Kashmir Valley was affected on Monday due to a shutdown call given by separatists against the killing of two youths in the Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district allegedly in army firing.

Shops, business establishments, schools and some government offices across the Valley remained closed while public transport was off the road. However, private vehicles were plying normally in uptown Srinagar areas.

 Reports said angry protesters set ablaze army goodwill school and a municipal building at Hajin area in Bandipora. Before fire tenders doused the flames, three rooms of the school building reportedly suffered minor damage, they said.

Reports of complete shutdown were also received from other districts including Bandipore, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Budgam.

Meanwhile, at least eight people were injured in day-long clashes between forces and protesting youth in different parts of North Kashmir over the killing of two youth on Sunday.  
In another incident, protesters also put on fire old Municipal building near SBI branch in Main Chowk, Bandipora. Later on, fire tenders reached the spot and doused off the flames, sources said, adding the building suffered little damage.

Meanwhile, terming the army’s assertions over the killing of two youth  “ridiculous” hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani said such announcements are being made to quell anger and pacify the aggravated sentiments of people.

“The authorities are not sincere and no probe would be initiated nor will be any punishment awarded to perpetrators,” Geelani said in a statement. He appealed the people from Ganderbal and Bandipora district to march towards Kondabal and Markandal villages where from the killed youth belong.

Three militants, one cop killed

Three militants and one policeman were killed in an encounter at Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. A paramilitary trooper and another policeman were also injured in the injured, sources said, reports DHNS.

Following specific information on the presence of militants, the Army’s 42 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF and the Jammu & Kashmir Police Special Operations Group personnel cordoned off the Maldoora area of Tral in Pulwama.

“The soldiers challenged the militants but they opened fire which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight in which three militants and one policeman were killed. One CRPF trooper and a policeman were also injured in the encounter,” they said. A senior Army official said bodies of the militants have been recovered and handed over to the police. However, identity of the slain militants is yet to be established, he said.

Three AK-47 rifles and ammunition were seized from the militants.