Srinagar, Aug 14 : Shutdown was observed in four districts of Kashmir against the killing of three militants and two civilians, while authorities imposed restrictions in Old city areas.
The shutdown was observed in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Budgam, while clashes erupted in Kakapora in the forenoon where a youth, Owais Shafi Dar, was killed on Sunday evening due to pellets fired by government forces.
Three militants of Hizb, including its Operational commander, Mehmood Ghaznawi, was killed in an encounter in Shopian, while two civilians, Owais Shafi of Kakapora and Muhammad Syed of Shirmal, Shopian, were killed during clashes after the encounter.
Shops, business units, schools were closed, while traffic was off the roads in these four districts. However, the traffic moved smoothly on Srinagar-Jammu Highway and in rest of the districts and towns.
Life in civil lines of Srinagar was not affected by the shutdown, however, the authorities imposed restrictions in Old city parts, including, Maharajganj, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar and Safakadal.
In Civil Lines, shops, business units and government offices were open, but schools were closed down by the government.
The government had also closed all the schools and educational institutions and universities apprehending protests by students as aftermath of killing of militants and the two civilians.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funerals of Yasin Yatoo at his native village in Chadoora, Budgam, and shouted pro-freedom and pro-militant slogans.
Witnessed said that police had sealed all the entry routes to Chadoora to prevent people from participating in the funeral processions. “Despite curbs, people reached the spot to take part in funerals as people took alternate routes through paddy fields and villages and hamlets,” witnesses said.
A police official told KNS that the situation in the valley remained “peaceful and under control, barring shutdown in few parts and minor clashes in Kakapora in the morning”. (KNS)