Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 12: A shutdown amidst stone-throwing clashes was observed in Kashmir valley against the attack on two truckers in Udhampur by miscreants three days ago.
Most of the shops, commercial establishments and educational institutes were closed in the city here while the Government offices and banks recorded thin attendance of employees. The traffic was largely off the roads but some private transport was plying normally across the city.
During the shutdown, clashes broke out between security forces and protesters at various places in Old City. The clashes raged at Bhori Kadal, Saraf Kadal and Rajouri Kadal areas of the downtown during which police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the protesters. A small incident of stone-pelting was also reported from Habba Kadal area of Old City in the morning.
The separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists took out a protest rally from Abi Guzar neighbourhood of city centre here and tried to proceed towards Lal Chowk. However, a large contingent of police prevented the JKLF activists from proceeding ahead and detained several of them.
Following police action, several activists of JKLF along with some locals pelted stones on police personnel. However, they were chased away by the cops. Late evening clashes erupted at Maisuma locality of Civil Lines here.
The reports of shutdown were also received from north Kashmir districts of Valley that include Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara. The stone-throwing clashes between security forces and protesters broke out at Palhallan area of Baramulla district while in Sopore Town, youth attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker with stones. A protest demonstration was held at Handwara in frontier Kupwara district.
The twin districts of central Kashmir, Ganderbal and Budgam also observed a shutdown to protest the Udhampur incident. The situation in these twin districts, however, remained peaceful.
Shutdown amid incidents of stone-pelting was also observed in four districts of South Kashmir that include Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama.
In Anantnag, the hometown of two drivers attacked in Udhampur, all the shops and commercial establishments were closed. The Anantnag Town witnessed intermittent stone-pelting incidents in the morning. The neighbouring Kulgam district also observed a complete shutdwon while protesters at Mir Bazar along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway resorted to stone-pelting.
The protesters at Kadlabal in Pampore Town of Pulwama district blocked National Highway for around 10 to 15 minutes and also pelted stones. The police, however, managed to clear the Highway within short span of time.
The call for today’s shutdown was given by various trade bodies and separatists against the burning of two Valley drivers in Udhampur by miscreants.
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