Kupwara in north Kashmir observe shut down against killing of woman

Baramulla, June 29 (UNI) Life was today crippled in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir due to spontaneous complete shut down in protest against the death of a woman, allegedly by security forces firing during an encounter in which three fidayeen were killed yesterday.

Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road in the town and adjacent areas. Work in government offices and commercial establishments was affected as employees stayed away from work. Educational institutions also remained closed.

The residents alleged that security forces, after killing three fidayeen, resorted to indiscriminate firing in the area resulting in the death of Fahmeeda.

There was no justification for killing Fahmeeda when all the three militants had died, they said.

Yesterday Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have foiled a major fidayeen (suicide) attack when they gunned down three militants before they could storm the headquarters of 28 Infantry Division in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir this afternoon.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, the slain militants had planned to storm the headquarters of 28 infantry Division at Shalkote in the frontier district of Kupwara.

However, a police party killed them a few kilometers away from the district headquarter when they were travelling in a blue coloured Maruti Van JKO3-5941.

Police claimed that the woman was killed in the exchange of fire.

UNI