Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley on Friday in response to a shutdown call from separatists against the killing of a civilian in capital Srinagar a day ago when three separate incidents of violence across Kashmir also ended in killing of three terrorists and a soldier. The authorities imposed strict restrictions in areas under five police stations in Old Srinagar city.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces personnel in riot gear was made in all the sensitive areas in sensitive areas of the main city and several towns across the valley. The authorities disallowed congregational midday prayers in Srinagar’s Grand Mosque when senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers weekly politico-religious sermon. This was second consecutive Friday when the congregational prayers were not held in the central mosque. Mirwaiz was put under house arrest at his Nigeen mansion in the outskirts of Srinagar city.
The shutdown call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)—a grouping of top separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz and Yasin Malik had called for a complete shutdown. A 22-year youngster Muhammad Saleem Malik was killed in Noorbagh area of Srinagar on Thursday morning triggering massive protests against the security forces in the area. Even as the police claimed that Malik was killed when militants opened fire on security forces, the locals said yhere were no militants in the area. Local legislator and former Speaker of legislative assembly Mubarak Gul said that Malik was killed in cold-blood. He demanded probe into the killing. Malik had reportedly ventured out of his home to see his sheep in the wee hours when he was targeted by security forces. His distraught uncle told reporters that he was dragged by security personnel before dozens of bullets were pumped into his body.
The police also disrupted the funeral procession and targeted it with tear smoke shells. Shops, business establishments, educational institutions and private offices mostly remained closed in Srinagar’s main business hub Lal Chowk and other uptown areas. Public transport remained generally off the roads while scanty private vehicles plied on many roads. The stand-alone train between Banihal and Baramulla also remained off the tracks for the day.
The internet services continued to remain affected in central Kashmir’s Budgam and south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts for the past several days.
Meanwhile, senior separatist leader Yasin Malik was arrested from his Srinagar residence and lodged at a local police station. Malik and Mirwaiz had announced to lead protests against the recent killings.