Srinagar, October 22 (KNO) : A complete shutdown was Monday observed across the Valley to mourn the death of seven civilians who died in an explosion near gunfight site in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday. The shutdown call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, appealing people to observe shutdown on Monday and observe sit in protest on Tuesday at Lal chowk. In view of shutdown, the district administration Srinagar had imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to thwart any protest against the Kulgam killings.Witnesses said that the heavy deployment of forces was deployed in the roads to ensure peaceful situation throughout the day.
Meanwhile, educational institutions in major parts of Kashmir Valley were closed as ‘precautionary measure’.All the shops and business establishments remained closed throughout the day while as traffic was also thin on the roads. However, clashes erupted at few places across the Valley including Chattabal, Chanapora, and other areas today. Forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth after they threw stones to them at some places, witnesses said.Meanwhile, amid tear, sobs, all the civilians who died in an explosion at Kulgam encounter site were laid to rest in the district.Thousands of people attended the last rites of slain persons who were seen chanting slogans in favour of freedom.(KNO)