Curfew-imposed Situation in Kashmir Valley After youths’ Murder in Sopore

Curfew-like situation prevailed in the Kashmir Valley Wednesday as authorities imposed stringent restrictions on the movement of people to prevent separatists from staging protest rallies and demonstrations on the fourth day ceremony of two youths killed in the alleged Army firing last week.

Thousands of police and paramilitary forces’ personnel have been deployed here and other major towns of the Valley as the separatists had called for observance of a general strike to protest against the “cold-blooded” murder of two youths in Sopore town of north Kashmir on Saturday.

Mohammad Amin Tantray and Javid Ahmad were killed and another youth, Firdous Ahmad, was injured in a firing incident at Bumai-Sopore, 55 km from here, sparking off massive protest demonstrations, prompting authorities to impose curfew in the town on Sunday.

The state government has already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident while Army has also ordered a court of inquiry.

While locals alleged that the troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles opened indiscriminate fire on the group of youth without any provocation, Army maintains that the two youths were killed in cross-fire between the security forces and militants.