J&K: Shutdown continued for 8th day to protest teenagers killing

Srinagar: Shutdown in Kashmir region continued for the eighth consecutive day following separatists outrage over the recently killing of two teenagers allegedly by security forces during an agitation. All shops, business establishments and government offices remained closed, and the traffic stayed off the roads. Violence had erupted, following a shutdown called by the separatist organization, Hurriyat Conference, to protest the death of Wanik.

Wanik Farooq, a resident of Rainawari, in Srinagar city, was killed on January 31, when police fired teargas shells to disperse demonstration. Sixteen-year-old Zahid Farooq was also killed allegedly by security forces near the office of Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force (C.R.P.F.) at Kralsangri-Brain Nishat, on Friday.

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been made by the authorities at vital places to stop violent protests. A curfew has been imposed to foil the intentions of chief of the moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to march towards the UN military observers' group after the killing of the two teenagers.

Farooq has been placed under house arrest for last three days including other leaders of the faction.

"A curfew has been imposed by the government to prevent people from coming out of their houses to thwart the call for march to the UNO by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq", said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a local resident.