Separatist shutdown affects life in Kashmir
A shutdown called by the separatists in protest against the killing of militants and a civilian affected the life in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate, headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik called for the shutdown against the killings of five militants and a civilian in Chowgam village of Kulgam district on Saturday.
Shops, public transport, businesses and educational institutions remained closed in Srinagar, the state capital, and the district headquarters of the Valley. Attendance in banks was also affected because of the nonavailability of public transport in Srinagar and other places.
All university exams scheduled for Monday have been postponed and rail services between the Valley and Bannihal town of Jammu region have been suspended.
Forces in Kashmir killed five suspected rebels on Saturday.
One protester was also killed in the resulting clashes with troops.
Kashmir Police said the rebels killed on Saturday belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant groups, and had been involved in the killing of two bank employees and police.
The operation was ‘a huge success’ for security forces, police said.
Government forces were conducting a search operation when the rebels opened fire, sparking the siege, police said.
Anti-militant operations have been stepped up since rebels shot dead four police. There have also been rising tensions over a Supreme Court hearing on privileges for Kashmiris that was delayed due to the risk of violence.
On Monday militants killed a soldier in Kulgam district, police said.