SHOPIAN; A complete shutdown was observed in South Kashmir’s Shopian district against the killing of two Hizb militants in Gagloora area of Pinjora Shopian in an encounter with Government Forces on Thursday.

As reported earlier, soon after the encounter hundreds of people assembled in Imam Sahib and Vehil Shopian after the killing of two local militants. Protestors clashed with Government Forces while during the clashes at least 18 people were injured. Three of the injured were referred to SKIMS.

Police had blocked road near Bonar to stop people from moving towards Shopian, however, reports said that hundreds of people participated in the last rites of militants. Amid pro-freedom slogans the slain militants were laid to rest in their respective ancestral graveyards.

Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Informer that soon after Friday prayers, protests broke out in Shopian while scores of youth attacked Court Complex Shopian where police and CRPF personnel are deployed in large numbers. Police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protestors. Reports said that the clashes between protestors and police continued for hours.
                                                     
All the shops and business establishments remained closed in the town while transport was off the roads. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were deployed in the town to thwart possible protests.

A police official told  that some youth tried to disrupt the peace in the town by pelting stones on the police, however, police exercised maximum restraint and dispersed them. He said the situation in the town was peaceful.

Pertinently, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, Abid Ahmad of Vehil Shopian
Arshad Hussain Sheikh of  Heripora Imamsahib . were killed during an encounter in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Thursday.