Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 17: In a major crackdown during the recent years against the gunmen who killed four people with separatist links, security forces today rounded up over four dozen suspects from restive Sopore.
The crackdown was launched after around 600 men form specialist counter-insurgency force who had already served in Sopore in the past were brought for conducting the operation against splinter Hizbul Mujahideen group that is being held responsible by the police for killing of four men last week and attack on telecoms in which 2 persons were shot dead and 4 were injured last month.
Sources said that around four dozen suspects were rounded up since last night. However, majority of them were let off with a rider that they will report in the respective Police Stations for investigations. However, around one dozen are still in police custody for questioning.
The special crack teams also raided over two dozen places since last night in search of Qayoom Najjar and Imtiaz Kandu who are most wanted militants thought to be involved in the killings. Police yesterday pasted posters in Sopore announcing cash reward for the informants who will provide information about Najjar and Kandu.
In the meantime, following a grenade attack on a mobile tower last night at Kralteng locality in Sopore, security forces today beefed up security of the telecommunication towers and intensified patrolling.
The attacks on Hurriyat Conference activists and former militants in Sopore has led to panic among over 300 former militants and Hurriyat activists in Sopore and adjoining areas. These people have fled their places or confined themselves to the houses to avoid getting targeted.
And against the killings in Sopore, a complete shutdown was observed across the Kashmir valley today.
The call for shutdown was given jointly by both the factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and was supported by almost all the pro-freedom groups as well as United Jihad Council (UJC).
The targeting of the Hurriyat activists and former militants have brought the separatist closer for the first time since efforts of Pakistan to unite them started two years ago. The fear of getting targeted forced the separatists to hold a joint meeting in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid and announce a joint strategy to counter the Sopore killings.
Majority of shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and petrol pumps were closed in Srinagar while Government offices and banks recorded thin attendance. The public transport was also off the roads while private transport was seen plying.
Police and para-military CRPF were deployed in full strength in sensitive areas of Srinagar city to prevent protests. Clashes between police and youth erupted in Saraf Kadal, Nowshehra, HMT and Nowhatta areas of the city.
Violent clashes were reported from Nowhatta Srinagar between protesters and police.
Sopore Town in North Kashmir, the epicenter of recent killings, observed shutdown for the fourth straight day. The markets wore deserted look and transport was off the roads.
Stone pelting was reported from Main Chowk Sopore after protesters attacked the 179 Battalion CRPF camp located in SBI building. Late in the evening, the protesters attacked Sopore Police Station with stones and bricks.
The shutdown was also observed in Baramulla Town with all the shops, commercial establishments and education institutes shut. The shutdown also affected movement of public and private transport.
South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian also observed a shutdown with shops and commercial establishments closed.
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