PULWAMA: Amid protests against the killing of a local militant in North Kashmirs Bandipora district, authorities imposed curfew in home district of the slain militant.
Omais Ahmad Sheikh, son of Farooq Sheikh, resident of Chatapora Pulwama was killed in a brief encounter with army in Ajas area of Bandipora late last evening.
Pulwama town observed a spontaneous shutdown Friday against militants death with traffic going off the roads while shops and business establishments remained shut.
Omais, police said was Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.
Omais, a college student he had joined LeT in June earlier this year, according to reports.
As the news of his killing spread, hundreds of youths in Pulwama town took to streets late on Thursday and held anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations. The protests continued through the night.
To prevent massive participation of people in the funeral prayers, the authorities imposed curfew in Pulwama in the wee hours Friday.
A heavy contingent of police and paramilitary personnel has been deployed across the town.
However groups of youth defying curfew tried to march towards the slain militants residence.
Hundreds of protesters hit the streets in Pulwama defying curfew and clashed with government forces, reports said.
According to residents, police used tear-gas to disperse the protesters and also resorted to aerial firing. However, clashes continued throughout the day in which dozens of protesters as well as policemen sustained injuries.
A youth from Kadlabal Pampore identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed Shergojri sustained pellet injuries and was rushed to a Srinagar hospital, reports said adding the six policemen were also wounded during the day long clashes.
Earlier, night protests were held amid anti-India and pro-freedom sloganeering when police handed over the body of slain militant to family. The body of the slain militant was kept in the premises of a local Masjid at Chhatpora while the town reverberated with Kashmiri patriotic numbers played by mourners using public address system. The body of Omais was laid to rest at Shaheed Park after Friday prayers only after his family returned from Jammu.
Locals alleged that police and paramilitary forces barred people from adjoining villages of Pulwama to participate in Omaiss funeral. Still thousands of inhabitants managed to reach the park and attended his last rites.
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