Valley shuts over civilian deaths Rajnath in J&K today to review security situation
STANDSTILL Kashmir sees suspension of train services, postponement of exams and several stirs; attendance in govt offices low
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 pro-freedom slogans , the students asked human rights bodies to take note of the civilian killings in the valley.
9-PHASE PANCHAYAT POLLS TO START NOV 17
The stage is set for the ninephased panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir as the process of issuance of notification begins Tuesday for electing representatives to over 35,000 panch constituencies across the state.
“The notification for the first phase of panchayat polls will be issued tomorrow (Tuesday) and the elections will take place in nine phases,” state chief electoral officer Shaleen Kabra told reporters. He added that the phase-wise polling would take place on November 17, 20, 24, 27 and 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11. NEW DELHI: Union home minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday to review the security situation in the state and interact with political leaders, officials said.
During the day-long visit, Singh will attend a high-level meeting with governor Satya Pal Mailk and top civil, police and security forces officials, and assess the prevailing situation.
Singh will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the valley and along the border with Pakistan, during his visit on October 23, a home ministry official said Sunday.
The visit of the home minister to Jammu and Kashmir comes following the urban local body and the panchayat elections, which were boycotted by the two major political parties — the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Pakistan-based terror groups had also threatened to disrupt the poll process.
The home minister is expected to meet leaders of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir during his visit, the official said.
The state has been under the governor’s rule after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had resigned as chief minister in June following the withdrawal of support by the BJP to her government.
Singh is also likely to meet representatives of some civil society groups, another official said.