Spontaneous shutdown in Tral during Omar’s visit
A spontaneous shutdown was observed in Tral town of south Kashmir’s Pulwom district against the visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, residents said.
The residents said that CM addressed a poll rally in Dilnaz Park at Tral Bala which was attended by few hundred people. “Roughly four to five hundred people were present to hear Omar,” they said. However, a journalist, who covered the rally, said at nearly 1000 people attended the rally.
“Though no one had called for the shutdown but shopkeepers spontaneously suspended their business activities,” the residents said, adding, it is the same place where three militants were killed by forces last month.
Omar was campaigning for Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, NC candidate from Tral assembly segment.
There was a partial shutdown in Main Chowk of Tral. “However, soon after Omar left, youth pelted stones on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker ensuing clashes for 15 minutes between the two sides,” a local, Zahoor Ahmad, said.
He said the police arrived on the spot and baton charged youth. “Many civilians were also baton charged,” he said.
Prior to the Omar’s visit, the forces had intensified the security in Tral – considered as one of the bastions of militants in south Kashmir – and had placed hundreds of security men in the town. “Apart from heightened security, sharpshooters were also placed on houses and other buildings around the park where Chief Minister addressed people,” the journalist said.
