Kashmir, Banihal shuts over Manan Wani’s killing

The Kashmir valley observed a shutdown on Friday over the killing of PhD scholar-turned-militant Manan Wani in a gunfight in the frontier district of Kupwara. Fearing law and problem, the authorities also imposed restrictions and curfew in some parts of the Valley.

Manan, 26, was killed along with another associate in a gunfight with security forces on Thursday at Handwara village in Kupwara district.

The authorities imposed curfew in Kupwara — the native town of Manan — and enforced strict restrictions some other areas of the district to maintain law and order. A large deployment of forces was also made in other parts of Kupwara. There were reports of clashes at Sogam, Lalpora, Tikoipora in Kupwara district after the Friday prayers.
In Srinagar, the shops and business establishments remained closed. The public transport was also off the roads. However, private vehicles plied normally. The train services from Banihal to Baramulla also remained suspended.

The shutdown call was given by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. The separatists blamed the “hardline approach” adopted by the Central government for the rise in number of educated youth picking up arms in Kashmir.

Reports reaching from other major towns on the north and south Kashmir said a complete shutdown was also observed there.

“The day passed off peacefully and there was no major untoward incident from any part of the Valley,” a police officer said.

Manan was buried at his native village on Thursday evening. Despite restrictions, a large number of people participated in his funeral.

Banihal town in Chenab Valley observed complete shutdown on the call of Joint Resistance Leadership on Friday, witnesses said.
They said that all shops and business establishments remained closed in Banihal.

“A very thin movement of traffic was observed in the town,” they said.
“The situation in Banihal, however, remained peaceful as there was no untoward incident anywhere.”
A witness said that special prayers were held in various masjids in Banihal for the slain scholar turned militant Manan Wani.