Rajnath appeals for peace in Kashmir

New Delhi, Jul 9: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain calm and maintain peace after violent protests, following killing of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter, led to death of at least nine persons.

"I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain calm and maintain peace," he said in a statement. Singh said the central government is working with the Jammu and Kashmir government to bring normalcy in Kashmir Valley.

"Deeply anguished at the loss of precious lives in the incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he said. Nine people were killed and 126, including 96 security forces personnel, were injured as mob violence and clashes rocked Kashmir over the gunning down of Wani even as authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended mobile internet services to contain the volatile situation.

Twenty-one-year-old Wani was killed, along with two of his accomplices, in an encounter in Kokernag area yesterday.

PTI