Budgam violence: Three civilians killed; strike in Kashmir today, examinations postponed

Srinagar: In the wake of the killing of three youth in Budgam district of Kashmir on Tuesday, separatists are observing a general strike on Wednesday.

They are also seeking an impartial inquiry into the incident.

Extra forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Kashmir Valley where normal life was disrupted due to the strike.

In view of the situation, Kashmir University, Central University Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology have postponed all examinations scheduled for today.

On Tuesday, three youth were killed and 18 others were injured as security forces clashed with stone-pelters trying to disrupt an anti-militancy operation which ended with the killing of a militant in Budgam district of Kashmir.

Officials said today that most of the shops, business establishments, and fuel stations were shut in the summer capital here in view of the strike, while educational institutions remained closed in the city, the officials said.

They said public transport was minimal, while private cars, cabs, and autorickshaws were plying in some areas of the city.

Similar reports of the shutdown were received from most other district headquarters of the Valley, the officials said.

They said extra deployment of security forces has been made in sensitive areas like Chadoora, in central Kashmir`s Budgam district, where the killings took place, as well as in downtown areas of the city here to maintain law and order.

The separatists, including chairmen of both Hurriyat factions - Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik, yesterday asked people to observe a shutdown today to protest the killings.

They also asked the people to hold protests after congregational prayers on Friday. 

Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and the Jammu region's Bannihal town have been suspended.

The killing of the civilians was described as "highly painful" by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who urged restraint from all sides while opposition National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said the incident reflects the "alarming situation" in the Valley.

Last morning, security forces launched a cordon-and- search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora village following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the hiding militant fired at the security forces.

As the gunbattle was underway, scores of people gathered at the site and resorted to stone-pelting, leading to clashes with the security forces.

The day-long clashes left three civilians -- all young men in their 20s -- dead while 18 others were injured, the police official said.

The lone militant was gunned down by the evening and a weapon was also recovered from the scene of the encounter.

The trend of civilians assembling near the encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.

It has continued even after Army Chief Bipin Rawat warned the youth against interfering in anti-militancy operations and the state administration imposing Section 144 within the three-kilometre radius of the encounter site.

(With PTI inputs)