Normal life went out of gear in Kashmir Valley following a shutdown call by separatist groups and traders to protest the death of a truck co-driver who succumbed to burn injuries in a Delhi hospital 10 days after being attacked by a mob at Udhampur on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
The State Cabinet unanimously expressed grief and shock over the death, observed 2-minute silence and approved ex-gratia relief for the victim’s family. The authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in jurisdiction of eight Police Stations in Srinagar and Anantnag to prevent protests. Most of the separatist leaders were put under house arrest.
The 22-year-old trucker, Zahid Rasool Bhat and his two companions were attacked by a mob at round midnight on October 9 at Udhampur when they were sleeping in a halted coal-laden truck. Zahid had received 70 per cent burn injuries in the petrol bomb attack. He was airlifted to Delhi from a Jammu hospital two days after the attack.
Shops, business establishments, educational institutions and courts remained closed. The attendance in the Government, semi-Government offices, banks, universities and other institutions was largely affected while the public transport remained off the roads. The authorities had postponed all scheduled examinations while the maiden convocation of Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora in south Kashmir was cancelled.
The train service between Banihal and Baramulla was also suspended following blockade of tracks by protesters near Bijbehara in Anantnag, said a railway official. “At Khanpora Bridge in Baramulla, scores of protesters protested and burnt down tyres on the road. As a precautionary measure we decided to suspend the rail service for a day,” said the Railway official.
In a rare occurrence, the State Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to express deep shock and grief over the tragic death of Zahid Bhat. The Cabinet observed a two-minute silence in memory of the departed soul. The BJP Ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh were present in the Cabinet meet.
Clashes broke out in Bhat’s native village of Botengoo in south Kashmir when the coffin reached there. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers on Monday morning.
Authorities said suitable security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order in Kashmir Valley. The restrictions were imposed in areas under five old city police stations, Maisuma police station in lal Chowk Srinagar besides Anantnag and Bijbehara in south Kashmir to maintain law and order. Curbs were imposed on the movement of several separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan and Ashraf Sehrai.