Curfew lifted from Shopian

Srinagar, Sept 11: Authorities on Wednesday lifted the three-day long curfew from Shopian township where four persons were killed in CRPF firing on weekend triggering violent protests.

The curfew, which was imposed in the south Kashmir town on Sunday following widespread clashes between law enforcing agencies and agitated residents after the killings, has been lifted this morning, a police spokesman said.

However, a spontaneous strike was observed in the town, 52 kms from here, with all shops and business establishments closed and transport off the roads.

Fresh clashes were also reported between the protesters and the security forces but there was no report of any casualty, the officials said. They said local residents staged protests at various places demanding arrest of the CRPF personnel involved in the "cold-blooded" murder of local youth and removal of their camp from Gagran - the scene of Saturday's shooting.

Four persons were killed in CRPF firing on weekend triggering violent protests.

While CRPF claimed that the four men were killed in retaliatory action after they attacked the personnel outside Gagran camp, the locals contested the statement claiming that the deceased were civilians and were killed in "unprovoked firing".

Police investigations revealed that three of the slain youth had no militant link but identified the fourth deceased as Pakistani militant Abdullah Haroon.

A pistol and two grenades along with a mobile phone used by Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

"There were minor clashes in the town between the protesters and the security forces today but overall the situation remained by and large peaceful," officials said.

They said senior officers are monitoring the situation and security forces have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order.

PTI