Day 3: Downtown continues to reel under curfew

Srinagar: For the third consecutive day, the downtown city reeled under curfew and forces siege while most parts of the city observed a spontaneous shutdown Saturday against the killing of a youth on Wednesday evening.

22 year old Bashir Ahmad was killed after ‘security forces’ opened fire on protesters in Nawa Kadal area of Old CityWednesday late evening soon after the polling for parliamentary constituency of Srinagar concluded at 26 percent turnout.

The killing sparked widespread anti-India clashes in parts of Srinagar particularly in downtown areas that left around 18 people including a woman and forces men injured. The government announced curfew on Wednesday late evening to curb protests and clashes in downtown while pro-freedom leaders called for a shutdown for today. The government had ordered ‘magisterial probe’ in the killing of the youth which will be headed by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah and he has been asked to submit report within15 days.

Meanwhile, the downtown areas falling five police stations continued to reel under curfew for the second straight day with hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in riot gear and holding assault rifles were deployed across the downtown. The forces had erected barricades, concertina wires and mobile bunkers to restrict the civilian movement, eyewitnesses told GNS.

Many downtown residents complained that forces barred them to buy milk and bread in the morning and forced them to return back home.

“The CRPF men aren’t allowing even to watch from windows. We have been caged from past three days,” Majid Shah, a college student, told GNS over phone from Nawa Kadal.

Several residents alleged once forces lift curfew, they pelt stones on residential houses after failing to chase stone-throwing youth. However, a police official denied these allegations.

The situation in uptown Srinagar was normal but a spontaneous shutdown was observed in city centre. Almost all the shops and commercial establishments were closed but traffic was plying normally. There was no call for shutdown by any group.

The situation, howver, returned to normal in valley except Palhallan – where a spontaneous shutdown was observed with clashes in the morning. There were reports of shutdown from Bandipora town in the morning. (GNS)