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Protests hit life in Kashmir

Photo: Nissar Ahmad

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik leading a protest in Srinager on Friday.

SRINAGAR: The continuing general strike against the mysterious death of two women at Shopian affected the normal life in the Kashmir Valley on Friday too.

Demonstrations were held in various parts of the State and the police arrested JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Forum chief Javed Mir.

People defied the police restrictions and took to the streets in large numbers after Friday prayers. They demanded severe punishment to the killers .

In Srinagar downtown, the people broke a police cordon to enter the Jamia Masjid to offer prayers. But, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq could not attend the payers as he was under house arrest. “We will not be cowed down by such tactics and the government shall have to bring out truth before the people,” the Mirwaiz told The Hindu.

In the Maisuma area, the agitators broke the police cordon outside the residence of Mr. Malik. The JKLF chief, who was leading a procession, was arrested. People threw stones at the police and raised slogans.

Mir was detained while leading a procession in Zaina Kadal. The police cordon around the house of hardline leader Syed Ali Geelani was tightened. Life remained paralysed in the city for the sixth day.People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti rejected the government probe into the death of two women.

She said the government should at least get an FIR registered and make public the autopsy report.

“We don’t believe in government probe. We are aware of the fact that no trooper was punished in Bomai, let alone in Khaigam, where inquiry report is yet to be completed. What we want is an FIR should be registered with the Shopian police,” she told a press conference at her residence.

The PDP would launch a massive campaign seeking revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. “We will build pressure on New Delhi to revoke the Act,” she said.

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