Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 16: The normal life was disrupted today in Kashmir valley against the killing of a teenager in the firing by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel last evening during which stone-throwing clashes occurred at many places.
Shop and commercial establishments mostly remained closed across Srinagar in protest against the killing of Sajjad Hassan, who was shot dead by BSF yesterday during stone-pelting, at Batamaloo area here. The transport on roads was skeletal while educational institutes, banks and Government offices were closed on the account of Sunday holiday.
In view of the volatile situation, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in Batamaloo area of Civil Lines and deployed hundreds of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
The restrictions were imposed strictly and no incident of stone-pelting was reported in the day from the area. The security personnel were also deployed across Old City and in other sensitive areas of Srinagar.
Although the day passed off peacefully in city here but a group of stone-throwers attacked an armoured vehicle of CRPF at Rainawari in Old City and set alight its tarpaulin. No security personnel was, however, injured. Soon after the attack, additional contingents of security forces were deployed in the area. In HMT area of Zainakote on city outskirts, youth clashed with security forces and protested against the Batamaloo killing. Evening clashes were also reported from few areas of downtown including Kani Kadal here.
In rest of the Valley, the shutdown affected normal life as most of the shops and commercial establishments were closed and traffic was mostly off the roads. Police said the situation remained peaceful but an incident of stone-pelting was reported from Hajin town of Bandipora district between youth and security forces.
Meanwhile, a group of militants appeared at Murran village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today and threatened few shopkeepers for keeping shops open during shutdown, sources said.
Apparently in view of the call of protests by Kashmir University Students’ Union (KUSU) against yesterday’s violence at Pulwama Degree College in which 54 persons – majority of them students – were injured in clashes with security forces, the District Administr-ation Pulwama ordered the closure of the Degree College till April 18.
The authorities of SSM College of Engineering and Technology at Parihaspora in Pattan area of Baramulla district also informed their students about closure of the college on April 17 without citing any reason.
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