Restrictions in parts of Srinagar after Pulwama encounter

Both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik have asked people to observe a shutdown against the killing of Firdous Ahmad yesterday.

He was killed near the encounter site, where two LeT militants, including the outfit’s commander Abu Dujana, were gunned down.

Curbs were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following the incident, a police official said.

Restrictions have been imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar --  Khanyar, MR Gunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Kralkhud, Nowhatta and Maisuma.

The strike affected normal life across Kashmir with most shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remaining closed.

Public transport was off the roads at most places though private cars and auto-rickshaws were plying, the official said.

The government has ordered closure of all educational institutions in the valley today to avoid escalation of streetprotests.

Mobile internet services have also been suspended acrossthe valley.

While there were no restrictions anywhere else in the valley, security forces have been deployed in strength at sensitive places to maintain law and order.

"The deployment on the ground in south Kashmir has also been strengthened to avoid any untoward incident," the official said.

A civilian who received pellet injuries near an encounter site in south Kashmir's Pulwama district yesterday, died this morning, police said.

Akeel Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Gabarpora area of the district, was injured in the abdomen during security forces action on protesters at Hakripora yesterday, a police

official said.

He said Bhat was referred to SKIMS hospital here where he succumbed to his injuries this morning. Bhat was second civilian after Firdous Ahmad was killed in the crossfire between militants and security forces yesterday.

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including the outfit's commander Abu Dujana, were killed in the encounter with the security forces.