Shutdown in Downtown Srinagar against custodial death of Awantipora teacher

Parts of Downtown Srinagar on Tuesday witnessed a spontaneous shutdown in the wake of custodial death of a south Kashmir teacher.

Eyewitnesses said majority of downtown areas and Maisuma in uptown Srinagar observed spontaneous shutdown soon after the news of custodial killing spread in the Valley.

   

He said that the shopkeepers downed their shutters in Nowhatta, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal, Hawal and Khanyar after announcements were made over the public address system of the Jamia Masjid asking people to observe shutdown.

Similarly, shutdown was also observed in Maisuma area of uptown Srinagar as well.

Intense clashes were reported and all shops and other commercial establishments remained closed in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district while traffic went off the roads following the custodial killing of the school teacher.

Meanwhile, authorities have suspended the Internet service as a “precautionary measure” in the area.

Earlier, both the former chief ministers of the state, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at the government of India over the custodial killing of a school teacher.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the brutal killing once again exposes the, helplessness, vulnerability and insecurity of the lives of Kashmiri’s as impunity to the authorities keeps rising.

On Tuesday, a school teacher, identified as Rizwan Pandit, died in police custody at CARGO camp in Srinagar.

A resident of a resident of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, Rizwan was arrested by the police few days back from his home.

A police official said that Rizwan died during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The Jammu Kashmir Police department has asked for a magisterial inquiry.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

eighteen + 2 =