After restoration of normal life for the weekend, the separatist-sponsored shutdown was observed in Kashmir on Monday even as incidents of stone pelting occurred in south Kashmir’s Tral town after the arrival of a senior separatist leader. In central district Budgam, unknown gunmen looted the branch of a local bank taking away over `12 lakh including demonetised currency notes. Police have launched a massive manhunt to nab the looters.
Normal life had returned to the Valley on Saturday and Sunday in response to the weekly calendar issued by the separatist who are spearheading a shutdown campaign since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. It was after a 133 days that complete normalcy including re-opening of schools and movement of passenger vehicles was witnessed.
However, on Monday the separatists had asked the people to return to the shutdown schedule. Though shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained shut, the roads were abuzz with traffic movement both passenger and private
vehicles.
Meanwhile, unknown gunmen struck in central distract Budgam and looted a local bank branch. Police said they have launched a massive manhunt to arrest the culprits who have robbed the Jammu & Kashmir Bank.
Police said that four masked gunmen entered into the J&K Bank, branch Malpora, Chrar-i-Sharief and robbed an amount of `12,45,240 from the Bank. The bank, housed in two ground-floor shops had a security guard with no arms. Sources said that around `10 lakhs were the currency notes of demonetised `1000 and `500 notes.
Sources said tension gripped south Kashmir’s Tral town when JKlF chief Yasin Malik arrived to pay homage to Hizb militant Burhan Wani. Malik is first prominent separatist leader who visited Wani’s family. Stone-pelting occurred in the area during Malik’s movements in the town.