Kashmir observed shutdown for the third consecutive day on Monday in protest against the killing of seven civilians at Pulwama in South Kashmir on Saturday.
Security forces foiled attempts to march towards the 15 Corps Headquarters at Badamibagh as called by Hurriyat. Police detained Hurriyat (M) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Badamibagh.
Justifying the shutdowns and the decision to march towards the security encampment, Mirwaiz said the continuing atrocities had left people no option but shut down their businesses. “We can only express our sorrow and outrage by stopping our daily business, as each day we are losing valuable lives,” he said.
Similarly, police also detained JKLF supremo Yasin Malik during his attempt to lead a march towards army base. On Sunday, Malik had gone underground to evade arrest. But once appeared in a procession on Budshah bridge on Monday morning, police swung into action and arrested him.
Authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar to foil the march. Earlier, Army had asked people not to march towards the Badami Bagh base.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party staged a protest at the civil secretariat in Jammu against the killings. The party’s leaders MLC Firdous Tak and former legislators Aijaz Mir and Yawar Mir led the protest.
