Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 26: A complete shutdown was observed in Old City Srinagar today to protest the use of force on protesters in Nowhatta area yesterday.
At least 50 people, including women worshippers, were injured after Friday prayers yesterday after the police and paramilitary forces fired teargas and pellets to break up a protest. Several police officials were also injured in the clashes.
The clashes erupted soon after congregational prayers and turned more intense after security forces allegedly fired pellets inside the grand mosque, leaving many dripping with blood and staining its floor.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed in the area following a shutdown call issued by the Jamia Market Traders’ Federation against “desecration” of the grand mosque.
Meanwhile, traders held a protest outside the Masjid against what they called as police high-handedness.
Earlier, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq visited the SMHS hospital to enquire about the health of the injured.
And amid a spontaneous shutdown, a protest rally was taken out in Hajin town of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district today against the brutal killing of a civilian, Yaqoob Ahmad Wagay.
Hundreds of protesters, including relatives of the slain civilian, took out a protest march from Prang village towards police station Hajin where they held a sit-in to demand punishment for his killers.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Hajin town and adjoining villages of Naidkai, Madwan, Prang, Shahgund, Vijpora, Markundal and Sumbal.
Wagay, according to his family, was killed inside his house on Thursday night by five gunmen.
Two of the masked gunmen worked knives on his throat while the other three gagged his wife and seven-year old son after violently waking them up.
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