An indefinite curfew clamped twelve days ago following clashes after the killing of five youth in Central Reserve Police Force firing continues in southern Shopian district.
Despite a high level government delegation visit on Tuesday to diffuse the crisis, authorities seemed in no mood to lift the curfew. However, official sources said the restrictions were eased late evening to allow people to buy essential commodities.
Curfew remained enforced in the town on Wednesday. Locals complained that they have run short of essential commodities due curfew which has also cast shadow of uncertainty on flourishing fruit business. Police and paramilitary CRPF, wearing riot gears and armed with sophisticated weapons, remain deployed to foil any attempts of protests by locals, witnesses said.
Witness said that all the entry and exit points leading to Shopian town and towards the residential areas are completely sealed. Even though there has been no incident of violence in past few days, the authorities have been reluctant in easing the restrictions,” said residents of Shopian town.
They said police and CRPF had erected barricades and bunkers at many places and people were not allowed to venture out.
“Shops, schools, offices and Petrol outlets remained closed while traffic was off the roads,” reports said. “Heavy deployment of police and CRPF was put in place in the town.
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said, “Curfew remained enforced on Wednesday to stop any untoward incident but was eased late evening.”
Curfew was imposed in Shopian, after CRPF from 14 Battalion in Gagran area shot dead 4 youth on September 7 and injured another.
While the locals maintain that the fourth slain person was a non-local labourer, CRPF said he was a Lashkar operative.
Following the killings, another civilian was shot dead allegedly by CRPF men of the same camp on September 11.
District administration has said that the admit cards of candidates appearing in examinations of State Services Selection Recruitment Board was treated as curfew passes. “Police and security forces were instructed to treat admit cards of the candidates and identity cards of the examination staff as curfew passes,” an official said.
Source: http://www.kashmirdispatch.com
