Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Wednesday in response to the separatists’ call to protest against the killing of three protesters at Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district during an anti-insurgency operation that culminated into death of a militant. More than two dozen protesters were wounded in police and paramilitary action during the encounter when protesters vainly attempted to rescue the holed-up militant.
Three civilians- Zahid Rashid, Aamir Fayaz and Ishfaq Ahmad—all in their early 20s were killed when they along with the other protesters attempted to rescue the local lashkar-e-Toiba (leT) commander Touseef Wagay, who was later killed in nine-hour-long gunfight.
All shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in Srinagar and major towns of the Valley while passenger transport was off the roads. The shutdown also affected the attendance in Government and semi-Government offices, banks, courts and post offices. The fuel stations across Srinagar city were also closed. Three universities in the Valley had announced postponement of all scheduled examination while the authorities suspended train service between Banihal and Baramulla.
The authorities imposed restrictions under section 144 RPC in old Srinagar and increased deployment of police and paramilitaries in sensitive localities. All prominent separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were kept under curbs at their homes. The JKlF chief Yasin Malik has been lodged in jail after his arrest.
Sources said that thousands of people attended the funeral of slain leT militant Wagay at his native village Kanjikullah in Yaripora of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Clashes erupted in the area after militant’s last rites were performed. Reports of clashes between protesters and police have also poured in from Baramulla and Palhalan areas of north Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the police waylaid independent legislator and leader of Awami Ittihad Party Sheikh Rashid outside his Jawahir Nagar residence and took him into custody. Rashid was proceeding towards Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s residence to protest against the recent civilian killings.