Shopian killings: Valley shuts in mourning

Srinagar, Jan 28: Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Sunday against the killing of two youth in army firing in Ganowpora village of Shopian in south Kashmir on Saturday.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar and other district headquarters of the Valley. Public transport also remained off the roads.
Joint Hurriyat Leadership – an amalgam of separatist bodies – had called for a shutdown against the killing of two youth in army firing.
In Shopian, shutdown continued for the fourth day against the militant and civilian killings that took place earlier. Two militants and a civilian were killed in a gunfight on Wednesday in Chaigund village of the district.
In downtown Srinagar, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions to prevent protests against the civilian killings.
Meanwhile, the two slain youth, Javaid Ahmed Bhat and Suhail Javaid Lone, were laid to rest Saturday evening.
Both the youth, as per reports, were laid to rest at their respective villages in Balpora and Ganawpora in district Shopian.
Local sources said that around five funerals prayers were held for each youth in which thousands of people participated amid intense pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering.
At atleast ten people were also injured in the army firing while one of the youth is said to be critical.
Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan ordered magisterial inquiry into the Shopian killings and instructed DC Shopian to submit a report within 15 days.
Also, to thaw the protests, the state government had put several places across the Kashmir valley under strict restrictions.
The state government has also suspended the mobile internet services in all the four districts of south Kashmir while the speed has been reduced to 128 kbps in rest of the Valley.
Army has said that fire was opened after they came under heavy stone-throwing in which a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was injured.
The state government has suspended the mobile internet services in all the four districts of south Kashmir in wake of killing of two youth by the army.
Mobile Internet services were also shut down in Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir while the speed was reduced to 128 kbps in rest of the Valley.