Geelani calls for shutdown in Tral, adjoining areas today after youth’s killing

Hardline Hurriyat Conference, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has called for a shutdown in Tral and adjoining areas on Wednesday to protest against the killing of a youth by Army.

The area is in the grip of violent protests since the killing of two people including a militant by Army on Monday leaving at least 32 people injured.

However, security forces have alleged that he was a militant.

The police has also started an investigation into the encounter after locals claimed that one of the killed youths, Khalid Muzaffar, was a civilian.

National Conference has also demanded a magisterial probe into the killing.

Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti called the incident “highly unfortunate and tragic” and said that it could have been avoided.

Separatist leaders Yasin Malik and Masarat Alam were detained by police while they were on their way to Tral on Tuesday.

The leaders were detained in Awantipore and taken into preventive custody. Some of their supporters were also detained by the police as a precautionary move.