Separatists call for shutdown in Kashmir in protest against killing of civilians
At least 11 youngsters are undergoing treatment in a Srinagar hospital for bullet injuries.
![Separatists call for shutdown in Kashmir in protest against killing of civilians](https://sc0.blr1.digitaloceanspaces.com/large/878151-83843-egjdfsmqkb-1520399013.jpg)
Separatists in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday called for a shutdown in the Kashmir Valley, a day after security forces killed five civilian protestors in South Kashmir. People in Shopian’s Badigam area started throwing stones at the soldiers after they came to know that the security personnel were engaged in a gun battle with five suspected militants, Greater Kashmir reported.
Internet services remained suspended in the region, the local daily reported.
One of the militants killed was identified as Dr Muhammad Rafi of Ganderbal, who went missing from Kashmir University only two days ago. The others killed were identified as Adil Malik of Malikgund in Shopian, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abbas Sheikh’s nephew Tauseef Sheikh, and former government employee Bilal Moulvi.
The loss of 5 innocent civilians in Shopian serves as a grim reminder that violence is no solution to the issues that plague us. We all must unite & pull J&K out of this endless nightmare by engaging in sustained & meaningful dialogue.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 6, 2018
Srinagar: Shutdown called by separatists in Kashmir over the death of 5 civilians in clashes with security forces in Shopian, Pulwama and other parts of South Kashmir following encounter of 5 terrorists in Shopian's Badigam yesterday #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/5HWlcHqrhz
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2018
Media reports, however, differed on the number of injury cases from the protest areas. The Kulgam district hospital received two bullet and four pellet injury cases, the daily reported.
At least 11 youngsters are undergoing treatment in a Srinagar hospital for bullet injuries. “Two of them are critical,” an unidentified doctor told Greater Kashmir. There are 20 others with pellet injuries in their eyes and other parts of the body.
The protests soon spread to other parts of Shopian, Pulwama, and nearby areas. The police detained Hurriyat (M) chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday after he violated his house arrest and attempted to march towards the civil secretariat in Srinagar in protest against the civilian killings, Greater Kashmir reported. The daily said police personnel also prevented the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation from protesting against the deaths.