Life remains crippled in Shopian in Kashmir

 

SRINAGAR :  Life remained crippled in south Kashmir Shopian as business and other activities remained shut though curfew was lifted after eleven days on September 22.

The residents are demanding immediate shifting of CRPF camp from Gagran area, where four people were killed in the firing on September 7, forcing authorities to impose curfew next morning following massive protests.

However, authorities lifted curfew for some hours but it was reimposed later on September 11 after a school bus driver was killed in security force firing on demonstrators at Gagran.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads even after curfew restrictions were lifted on September 22. Morning following improvement in the situation.

Transport also remained off the roads and work in goverment offices, banks and educational institutions remained affected.

Meanwhile, the authorities have shifted the examination centre from Degree college, Shopian, to higher secondary school for university examinations.

The residents are demanding total shifting of CRPF camp from Gagran and action against the security force personnel involved in these killings. However, some CRPF personnel shifted to other place.

The government has appointed District Magistrate (DM), Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat to conduct the inquiry into these killings.

Statements of a number of witnesses were recorded by Mr Bhat who has extended the date of recording statements.

However, police claimed that one of the four people killed in the firing on September 7 was a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Abdullah Haroon.

(AGENCIES)