While another youth succumbed to his injuries suffered recently in hospital on Monday, the army is gradually moving in to assist the state government in curbing civilian protests in the Valley.
Amir Bashir, 17, of Sedow Shopian succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday morning, taking the death toll of civilians killed in the current unrest to 55. Amir was hit by pellets on Friday during protests. The pellets had severely damaged his brain.
The army has begun work to secure the national highway besides other vital links in Kashmir.
Columns of Army could be seen deployed along the Anantnag-Srinagar-Baramulla stretch of the highway.
Though the officials and army authorities in Kashmir are tightlipped on this, those who travelled on the stretch on Monday reported such movement and deployment.
Official sources said the government is working on its first major challenge to restore the national highway in the valley and for it all security agencies are pooling in resources.
The army is moving its convoy on the highway during night to avoid stone-pelters and other protesters.
The development comes four days after Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured her that the army would provide all help to the state government in restoring peace.
At Mirgund in north Kashmir, the Army and police stopped several trucks laden with goods which had embarked on their journey during night.
There are indications that the army may play a major role in the coming days to “restore normalcy”, especially in south Kashmir, which has been the epicenter of the current unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.
J&K Police and CRPF are currently handling the ‘law and order’ situation in the region and there seems no end to the unrest.