Suspected terrorists hurled a grenade towards a police station in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town as normal life came to a halt in Kashmir valley on Thursday in protest against the killing of four unarmed protesters during a gunfight between security forces and terrorists in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district a day ago. A soldier died and two others were wounded in the gunfight with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants who fled away when the encounter site was stormed by protesters.

Police sources said that two policemen were injured in a grenade attack by unidentified terrorists on police station in Pulwama. The grenade exploded outside the police station premises. They said the law and order situation remained under control and there were no attempts to breach the prohibitory orders.

The shutdown call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising prominent separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik whose movement has been barred by the authorities.

Four civilians were killed in ‘crossfire’ between security forces and terrorists in Khudwani village near Wanpoh in Kulgam district during a counterinsurgency operation launched by security forces on the basis of specific input regarding presence of terrorists in a residential house. The locals alleged that the civilians were killed to avenge the killing of a soldier by terrorists who managed to flee from the encounter site. People in large numbers stormed the encounter site after announcements were made from local mosques to help terrorists escape.

All shops, business establishments, educational institutions, banks and post offices remained closed and public transport was off the roads. Prohibitory restrictions were imposed in areas under seven police stations in Srinagar city and various sensitive areas in Kulgam.

Heavy contingents of police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed across the Kashmir Valley. Concertina wires and barricades have been placed at all entry and exit points in Srinagar city.

Despite shutdown, a large number of tourists were seen visiting Mughal gardens across the Boulevard Road in Srinagar.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Friday, 13 April 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Srinagar