SRINAGAR: Curfew continued in Shopian for the third day today while the restrictions had been extended to two more south Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Kulgam as a precautionary measure following the ‘Shopian Challo’ called by breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC).
The District Magistrate, Srinagar, has also imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPC to prevent any law and order problem.
However, curfew, imposed in Shopian on September 8 after the death of four people in alleged firing by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on September 7 at Gagran, was relaxed for two hours for the first time yesterday at 1730 hrs.
The relaxation period passed by and large peacefully, officials said.
Curfew continued in the Shopian, where fourth day ‘ Fateha’ of deceased persons was being observed today.
The hurriyat had called for Shopian challo to express solidarity with the families of deceased youths.
They said curfew restrictions were extended to Kulgam and Pulwama towns while restrictions under section 144 CrPC were being strictly implemented in other parts of these south Kashmir districts.
Additional security forces were deployed to strictly implement the curfew restrictions.
However, the District Magistrates of these districts have directed the security forces to treat identity cards of students appearing in different examinations as curfew passes.
It has also been decided to treat the identity cards of doctors and other para medical staff as curfew passes in these districts.
The security forces have also been advised to allow patients and their attendants to go to hospitals.
All roads leading to the houses of deceased youths have been sealed and nobody was being allowed to go there.
Security forces had to burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at several places in south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Shopian to disperse the demonstrators, demanding shifting of CRPF camp and arrest of those personnel involved in the killing of youths.
Police said that three of the four youths killed in CRPF firing at Gagran, Shopian, in south Kashmir have no previous record of militancy.
However, the fourth was not a localite having links with Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), police said.
Police said the investigation by police revealed that three deceased were Tawseef Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi and Tariq Ahmad Mir, who have no previous record of militancy in police record.
However, the evidence collected from the spot and subsequent verifications suggest that he is Abdullah Haroon of LeT.
One pistol, two grenades and a diary were recovered from the spot.
Besides, the mobile phone recovered from his pocket contains a video clip showing weapons snatched from police and CRPF personnel in the incidents of Arwani and Awnera Shopian, he said adding further the mobile phone has Dialer/SKIPE software which is available with Lashkar commanders.
Communist Party of India (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami has demanded time bound judicial probe into the firing while the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the killing and alleged that the firing was unprovoked.
The Congress, a partner in the coalition government in the state has also demanded inquiry and action against those found guilty.
(AGENCIES)
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