Normal life was affected in Kashmir on Friday due to a strike called by separatists against the civilian killings in Pulwama district during a gunfight on Thursday.
Shops, business establishments, and educational institutions remained closed due to the strike. While most of the public and private transport remained off the roads, a few vehicles could be seen plying on some routes.
Top separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference were placed under house arrest as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the Valley.
While hardliner Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to be under house arrest, chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was confined to his home this morning.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength at sensitive areas of the city and other major towns of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile reports said that soon-after Friday prayers youth assembled near Jamia Masjid area of Sopore town and started shouting pro-freedom slogans within short time the large gathering of angry youth started pelting stones on government forces who in turn retaliated by lobbing tear gas shells to disperse the agitated youth. However no one was injured during clashes.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed in the Bandipora, Pulwama town to mourn the death of Militants, civilians. (PTK)
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Clashes in Kupwara after Friday prayers
Clashes erupted between the security forces and protesters in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after congregational Friday prayers.
Reports said that the protesters pelted stone on forces that retaliated with tear smoke shells. According to reports
after Friday prayers youth started shouting pro-freedom and Pro-Azadi slogans.
Forces lobbed tear gas shells and pellets to disperse the agitated youth in which one protester received minor injury.
Meanwhile Kupwara observed complete shutdown on the strike call given by separatist leaders.
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Friday prayers not allowed today at Jamia Masjid
Authorities have disallowed congregational Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar in view of call for protests by the joint resistance leadership.
“Muezzin of Jama Masjid Molvi Muhammad Yasin was not allowed to offer Azan. All gates of Jama Masjid were locked by police and paramilitary forces,” said a spokesman of Jamia Auqaf Committee.
He said all roads leading to the historic mosque were blocked and that no one was being allowed to enter the mosque.
Earlier, chief cleric and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest. (PTK)