Shutdown in Kashmir after civilian deaths
STANDSTILL Strike saw suspension of train services, postponement of exams
SRINAGAR: The Valley witnessed a complete shutdown on Monday, a day after seven civilians died and three militants were killed in an explosion at the site of a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Shops and business establishments remained shut and attendance in the government offices remained thin. The shutdown was called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) led by separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Syed Ali Geelani.
Three militants were killed in an encounter in Larnoo village on Sunday. After the encounter ended, seven civilians were killed and more than three dozen were injured in the explosion at the gunbattle site.
The police said all the three militants were locals and were affiliated with Jaish e Mohammad militant outfit.
“The strike had an impact across Kashmir as people were appalled at the images of dead and injured civilians circulated on social media on Sunday,” said Rizwan Akthar, a student.
Mobile internet services in south Kashmir were suspended soon after the gunbattle started on Sunday. The administration also postponed all the exams scheduled for Monday. The train service between Banihal and Baramulla, which passes through restive south Kashmir, was also suspended following apprehensions of protests on the tracks.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reacting to a tweet of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and said: “People of Kashmir appreciate Pakistan’s concern, but to put an end to the appalling grind of repression and human rights abuse that Kashmiris are suffering at the hands of Indian state urgently requires Pakistan as a party to the dispute to do much more.”
Independent legislator Sheikh Rashid along with dozens of his workers led a protest demonstration against the civilian killings in north Kashmir’s Handwara town. Students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Wadoora, Sopore also held demonstration against the killings. Chanting slogans , students asked human rights bodies to take note of the civilian killings.
9-PHASE PANCHAYAT POLLS TO START NOV 17
The stage is set for the ninephased panchayat elections in J&K as the process of issuance of notification begins Tuesday for electing representatives to over 35,000 panch constituencies.
“The notification for the first phase of panchayat polls will be issued tomorrow (Tuesday) and elections will take place in nine phases,” state chief electoral officer said.