Banihal, Aug 16: The mountainous Banihal tehsil of Ramban district remained tense as the residents observed a shutdown for the fourth consecutive day on Monday in protest against the arrest of some youth by the police for staging protest against the killings in Kashmir Valley.
While police has shifted five arrested youth to Udhampur Jail, after slapping stringent charges against them, Beopar Mandal Banihal has given four days’

 ultimatum to the district administration for release of the youth failing which it has threatened to launch an indefinite strike.
 The township observed complete shut down on the fourth consecutive day as all the shops and other business establishment besides educational institutions remaining closed. However, some of the shops later opened after a delegation of the local residents and Beopar Mandal held a meeting with tehsildar Banihal, who assured that further arrests will not be made in the case.
 The tehsildar, as per the delegation, has assured that the legal process for release of detained youth will also be initiated.
 “We will go for an indefinite strike in case the administration failed to release the youth within four days,” president Beopar Mandal, Shahnawaz Khan said.
 Police arrested over a dozen youth after local residents staged a peaceful protest demonstration in the area against innocent killings in Kashmir Valley on Friday last. Police has slapped serious charges, including attempt to murder, against the protesting youth.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST