Shutdown continues in Kashmir

Undeclared curfew and restrictions continued in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and the old city areas of Srinagar on Sunday to scuttle protests against the killing of a youth in alleged police firing on Friday.

Reports said clashes broke out in several parts of Kashmir against the killing while complete shutdown was observed on the call of separatists on Sunday.

Reports said curfew, which was clamped in parts of Bandipora district to thwart the protests on Saturday, continued on Sunday with strict curbs put on the movement of people in Naidkahi, Hajin and surrounding areas. “Hundreds of policemen and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, who were deployed in these areas, did not allow anybody to venture out,” they said.

Shahgund, the native village of 18-year-old Farhat Dar, was sealed by authorities and nobody was allowed to enter the village. Dar was killed in Naidkhai, Bandipora, 38 km from here, in alleged firing by Jammu and Kashmir police.

Restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular movement were also imposed in the old city areas of Srinagar where police and CRPF personnel were deployed in riot gear. Normal life was also partially hit in uptown areas of Srinagar. 

There was skeletal movement of traffic on the roads while due to Sunday government offices remained closed.

A police spokesman said the situation remained peaceful throughout the valley. 

“However, stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from main Chowk Bandipora and Hajan in Bandipora, Barsoo in Ganderbal and Azad Gunj in Baramulla. There were no reports of injury to anyone, till last reports came in,” he said.