Srinagar, Feb 27: The Hurriyat Conference (G) has urged people to observe a shutdown on Monday to protest against destruction of houses in Sopur during a four- day siege.
Pertinently, nearly 25 families were rendered homeless during an encounter between militants and troops at Chinkpora in north Kashmir earlier this week. Four troopers, including an army captain, and two militants were killed in a 2-day gunfight which ended on Wednesday. However, area remained under siege for 4-days.
 Locals had accused troopers of destroying houses after militants were killed.
 In a statement, the Hurriyat spokesman alleged that the troops, during siege razed scores of houses and “inflicted innumerable atrocities” on the beleaguered civilians.
 “Hurriyat urges people to make shutdown call a success to express solidarity with victims,” he said, adding that decision to call for a shutdown was taken after proper consultations with several leaders and Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
 He expressed serious concern over group clashes in the outskirts of Pattan area, he appealed Ulema and elders to play their role to contain the situation. “We can’t afford to indulge in group clashes at the time when we are fighting together for a cause,” the spokesman added.
 He urged people to stay calm and maintain unity at all costs.
 Meanwhile, Geelani, according to Tehreek-e-Hurriyat statement, has appealed to the Tehreek office-bearers and people of Sopur area to start work on rehabilitation of all families whose houses were destroyed during the Chinkipora gunfight.
 He has also appealed to the International human rights organizations, including  Amnesty International and Asia Watch, to take cognizance of the destruction and provide relief to victims.
 Meanwhile, Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir and Muslim League have also condemned the destruction of houses at Chinkipora, terming it highly condemnable.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST