Restrictions continue in Sopore for 5th day

Authorities Friday imposed curfew-like restrictions in this north Kashmir town for the fifth consecutive day.
The curfew is in place since June 23 after a 24-year-old youth was shot dead when government forces fired indiscriminately on a group of youth.
Across the town, forces had placed barricades of concertina wire while movement of people was blocked.
Business continued to remain affected while traffic too remained off the roads.
The restrictions on Friday resulted in a shutdown which locals have been observing since the killing of the youth.
Police and paramilitary forces had laid barricades at key locations including Iqbal Market, Main Chowk, Chanakhan, Hatishah and Cement Bridge.
The restrictions were not announced by the government for Friday. But forces randomly imposed the curbs, affecting key sectors including healthcare.
Heavy contingents of forces also remained deployed in various areas including Batapora, Kralteng, Arampora, Chankhan, Naseem Bagh, Krankshivan and Baba Yousuf.
However, no report of untoward incident was reported anywhere across the town.
The situation in the town has been precarious since June 23 after Arshid Aziz Shah, 24, fell to the bullets of forces at Krankshivan Colony. 
That day, locals were protesting against the killing of a militant in a 20-hour long gunfight and were demanding the body of the slain.
However, according to witnesses, forces fired indiscriminately on a group, killing Arshid and wounding four other youths of the locality.
Although the curfew was lifted yesterday morning, the area observed complete shutdown on Thursday.
Friday’s restrictions were, however, imposed primarily by forces with locals also staying indoors.