Normal life remained affected in Kashmir Valley on Sunday for the second consecutive day in response to a shutdown call by separatists against killing of five persons in two separate incidents in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The authorities have begun probe into the firing incidents even as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp located at Gagran village of Shopian, blamed for the killings, has been replaced by armed wing of Jammu and Kashmir police.
The law and order situation has worsened in Kashmir since September 7 when paramilitary CRPF shot dead four persons in Shopian town a few hours before German music maestro Zubin Mehta conducted an orchestra in Srinagar’s Shalimar Garden. Police confirmed that three of the four slain persons were locals without any record of affiliation with militant groups. locals say that the fourth person was a non-local labourer.
Shopian town and adjoining villages were under continued curfew for four days. On September 11, the local administration announced relaxation in curfew for few hours. As protests resumed in the town, the CRPF personnel of the same Gagran camp opened fire and killed a 28-year-old school-bus driver Rafiq Rather. With five killings in four days, the volatile town erupted again and agitated people held massive demonstrations against the Government and security forces.
On Sunday, besides Shopian, curfew was also imposed in major villages of Kulgam district - Qaimoh and Khudwani. Residents in Shopian complained of scarcity of essential commodities.
last week, the J&K Cabinet expressed “grave concern” over the Shopian killings and ordered to replace the CRPF of Gagran camp with a contingent of J&K Armed Police. The Cabinet ordered the police to determine the facts of the controversial shootout case including the identity of the slain fourth person within 48 hours. However, three days after the Cabinet direction, the police have not come out with anything conclusive.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian Bashir Ahmad Bhat has also begun a separate magisterial probe with recording statements of eyewitnesses. Sources said that police summoned several groups of non-local labourers working in the area and showed them photographs of bodies. “Any person having the knowledge about firing incidents and desiring to share it with the appointed inquiry officer, can do it from tomorrow (Monday) till September 21 from 1100 to 1500 hours every day. Statements shall be deposed orally or in the form of affidavit”, an official spokesman said.