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Valley downs shutters against Boniyar firing
Shops remained shut and public transport off the roads in Kashmir Valley on Friday in protest against the killing of a student in Uri last week. The death that occurred in the aftermath of a protest against frequent power cuts that prompted the traders to call for a Valley-wide shutdown against dismal state of power supply during the spine-chilling winter months.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in Srinagar city and other sensitive towns to prevent any law and order situation. Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of traders’ bodies, had called for the strike. A faction of pro-independence JKLF had also announced to stage a peaceful protest demonstration in Lal Chowk over the killing.
After the Friday prayers, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik led a protest demonstration from Maisuma locality chanting slogans against what he called “institutionalised corruption” and “reign of trigger-happy soldiers”.
As the protesters attempted to march towards the commercial hub Lal Chowk, police and paramilitary forces stood in their way.
Malik and his supporters insisted to march ahead prompting the police to bundle them in vehicles.
They were detained in nearby Maisuma and Kothibagh police stations under “preventive custody”. Police resorted to cane-charging to disperse Malik’s supporters.
A police officer said that the JKLF leader was taken into custody to prevent worsening of law and order situation. Malik was the first separatist leader who reached far-off Uri village on Tuesday to meet the family of the slain youth.
The Class XII student, Altaf Ahmad Sood got killed on Monday at Boniyar in Uri when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding the residential quarters of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) opened fire on a group of protesters demanding adequate power supply. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the killing as “not less than a murder”, the CISF maintained that their personnel opened fire in self-defence.
Police have registered FIR and arrested five CISF personnel in connection with the killing.
Sood’s death evoked widespread condemnation in Kashmir Valley where street protests and road blockades are a routine against frequent power cuts and load-shedding. Sensing a flare-up, the Chief Minister himself visited the bereaved family and announced to improve the power distribution system in the Valley.
The Power Development Department pressed into service diesel generators in Pampore to augment the power supply by a hundred megawatts daily.
National Highway closed due to snowfall
Jammu: The 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway was on Friday closed for vehicular traffic due to snowfall leading to slippery conditions, forcing over 300 vehicles to halt at various places en route.
Due to slippery road conditions and snowfall between Patnitop and Jawahir tunnel area, the highway was closed for vehicular traffic early this morning, police said.
Shops remained shut and public transport off the roads in Kashmir Valley on Friday in protest against the killing of a student in Uri last week. The death that occurred in the aftermath of a protest against frequent power cuts that prompted the traders to call for a Valley-wide shutdown against dismal state of power supply during the spine-chilling winter months.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in Srinagar city and other sensitive towns to prevent any law and order situation. Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of traders’ bodies, had called for the strike. A faction of pro-independence JKLF had also announced to stage a peaceful protest demonstration in Lal Chowk over the killing.
After the Friday prayers, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik led a protest demonstration from Maisuma locality chanting slogans against what he called “institutionalised corruption” and “reign of trigger-happy soldiers”.
As the protesters attempted to march towards the commercial hub Lal Chowk, police and paramilitary forces stood in their way.
Malik and his supporters insisted to march ahead prompting the police to bundle them in vehicles.
They were detained in nearby Maisuma and Kothibagh police stations under “preventive custody”. Police resorted to cane-charging to disperse Malik’s supporters.
A police officer said that the JKLF leader was taken into custody to prevent worsening of law and order situation. Malik was the first separatist leader who reached far-off Uri village on Tuesday to meet the family of the slain youth.
The Class XII student, Altaf Ahmad Sood got killed on Monday at Boniyar in Uri when Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel guarding the residential quarters of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) opened fire on a group of protesters demanding adequate power supply. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the killing as “not less than a murder”, the CISF maintained that their personnel opened fire in self-defence.
Police have registered FIR and arrested five CISF personnel in connection with the killing.
Sood’s death evoked widespread condemnation in Kashmir Valley where street protests and road blockades are a routine against frequent power cuts and load-shedding. Sensing a flare-up, the Chief Minister himself visited the bereaved family and announced to improve the power distribution system in the Valley.
The Power Development Department pressed into service diesel generators in Pampore to augment the power supply by a hundred megawatts daily.
National Highway closed due to snowfall
Jammu: The 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway was on Friday closed for vehicular traffic due to snowfall leading to slippery conditions, forcing over 300 vehicles to halt at various places en route.
Due to slippery road conditions and snowfall between Patnitop and Jawahir tunnel area, the highway was closed for vehicular traffic early this morning, police said.
