Kulgam encounter: Separatist shutdown over civilian deaths affects normal life in Kashmir

Life across the Kashmir Valley was adversely affected on Monday by a separatist-called shutdown against deaths of seven civilians including a 15-year-old boy in an explosion in Kulgam district on Sunday. The explosion took place soon after a gunfight between government forces and militants in Laroo area of southern Kulgam district left three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants dead on Sunday.

The encounter was immediately followed by a massive civilian protest. Just as a large crowd gathered at the encounter site, a massive explosion occurred.

With authorities also imposing restrictions in Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Maisuma and MR Gunj to prevent the shutdown, shops, public transport, businesses and educational institutions remained closed.

Only a skeletal stream of private vehicles were seen on city roads.

The Kashmir University and the Board of School Education in the state have postponed exams scheduled on Monday.

Train services have also been suspended between Baramulla and Bannihal towns. Heavy police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployments were made in all sensitive areas, as well as those placed under restrictions.

“Extremely saddened by the news of Kulgam incident, where civilians were once again caught in the cross fire of violence , thus adding fuel to the already volatile situation . All words of condemnation, condolence sound very hollow at this tragedy,” former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti wrote on Twitter.

Advisor to governor on security affairs, K Vijay Kumar, and director general of police Dilbag Singh Sunday expressed deep anguish and regret over loss of civilian lives in a blast near a gunfight site in Laroo, Kulgam. In a joint statement, Kumar and Singh expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their dear ones “in this tragic incident.”

“As per reports, the civilians rushed to the site after the encounter was over, resulting in casualties in the blast as the area was yet to be sanitised,” they said in the statement, and urged the civilians to “avoid such sites till they are properly sanitised.”

In a statement, a police spokesman said: “In Kulgam encounter three militants of JeM were killed. In the aftermath of the encounter a large congregation entered the encounter site before it was cleared and led to an explosion in which six people died.”

“Moreover after the conclusion of encounter, as the forces moved out, locals started assembling at the site of encounter and had apparently fiddled with some stray explosive materials leading to an explosion. Consequently some individuals sustained grievous injuries and some of the injured identified as Ubaid Shah, Tajamul, Irshad Ahmad Padder, Uzair Ahmad and Masroor Ahmad unfortunately succumbed to injuries when brought to hospitals. Five other injured are undergoing treatment. It is pertinent to mention that this incident occurred post encounter,” the statement read, adding: “Citizens are requested not to visit any encounter site until the site is sanitised by the bomb disposal team. We seek cooperation of people in this regard for avoiding accidents of such nature.”

With inputs from agencies