Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 17: Militants tonight killed one Ajaz Ahmad of Pinglana area of South Kashmir.
Sources said that Ajaz was fired upon by militants tonight outside his house and was critically injured. Militants fled after firing at him.
He was removed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
In the meantime, a private Cement factory was damaged in fire at Ganderbal in Central Kashmir. Two of the employees were injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, a shutdown called by separatists and traders against yesterday’s civilian killings and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) paralyzed normal life across Kashmir today during which protests and clashes erupted at some places while authorities clamped restrictions in five police station areas of city.
All the shops and commercial establishments, educational institutes, fuel stations were closed across Srinagar city while public transport stayed away from roads but skeletal private vehicles were plying on fewer city routes. The banks and Government offices recorded thin attendance due to shutdown and prevailing tension. The Banihal-Baramulla rail service remained suspended today for the second consecutive day.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions in Old City areas falling under five police stations including Maharaj Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and Khanyar. Hundreds of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in Old City since morning to enforce restrictions who had erected barbed wires and mobile bunkers on key junctions and squares. The restrictions were imposed strictly throughout the day and later in the evening clashes broke out at Fateh Kadal, Kani Kadal, Nowhatta and Nawa Kadal areas.
Large numbers of security personnel were also deployed in city’s civil line areas including Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Court Road and Red Cross Road. To protest the Government’s proposal to implement GST in the State, the traders and shopkeepers led by Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) president Mohammad Yasin Khan staged a sit-in protest near Clock Tower in Lal Chowk for nearly an hour.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Khan said the GST in its present form compromised the fiscal autonomy of the State. “We won’t allow implementation of the GST in the State. We have special status, separate constitution and we want our separate GST in the State,” he said. The traders led by Khan later tried to march towards Civil Secretariat but were prevented by police and taken into custody. Later they were released.
The shutdown was also observed in other parts of the Kashmir. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces at Pampore town of Pulwama district against the killing of militants and civilians. Police used teargas shells and pellets against hundreds of stone-throwing youth. The clashes broke out at Tral town in the district. The situation in other areas of the South Kashmir remained under control. The shutdown was also observed in Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone said the restrictions in five police station areas of Old City would continue tomorrow as well. According to the Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, in case of restrictions in view of the prevailing law and order situation, the admit cards of the candidates appearing for the Union Public Service Commission examination scheduled on June 18 Sunday at different centers across the Kashmir valley shall be treated as curfew passes.
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