Sopore, Pampore towns observe shutdown against militant killings

Sopore town of north Kashmir on Wednesday observed complete shutdown against the killing of a local militant in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pampore area last evening.
Sopore, Pampore towns observe shutdown against militant killingsPolice said Shakir Ahmad Bhat son of Showkat Ahmad of Nowpora Sopore was killed in a brief gunfight with forces in Pampore on Tuesday evening. Another non-local militant was also killed in the encounter.
When the slain militant’s body was handed over the family on Wednesday, hundreds of people joined his funeral prayers and raised pro-freedom slogans, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, commercial establishments remained closed in Sopore while traffic was off the roads. Stone-pelting was also witnessed in some areas of the town.
In Pampore, where the gunfight took place, complete shutdown was observed on Wednesday, reports said.
Reports said youth staged protest demonstrations in Namblabal and Dranbal areas of Pampore to demand body of ‘Pakistani militant’ killed in the shootout.
Heavy contingents of police and CRPF were deployed in main town to thwart protests, witnesses said.
Youth pelted stones on forces resulting in mild clashes which continued throughout the day in interiors of Pampore town, they added.
Reports also said all shops and other business establishments in the town remained closed, but public and private transport plied on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Superintendent of Police Awantipora Muhammad Irshad told that situation in Pampore was normal. “There was only partial shutdown in the area,” he claimed.
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