Kashmir violence: Protest continues in Sopore

SRINAGAR - The situation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore town continues to be tense for the fourth day on Tuesday.

Curfew has been imposed in Sopore while movement of civilians has been severely restricted in many parts of Srinagar.

Additional security forces have been sent to Sopore, Baramulla and downtown Srinagar Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has given a call for civil disobedience, urging people to come out on streets to protest against the alleged firing and killing of civilians by the CRPF in which eight civilians have been killed in the three weeks.

Meanwhile, several top separatist leaders including JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Muslim Khawateen Markaz Chief Yasmeen Raja were detained by police.

The state government appointed Mohammed Shafi Khan as Special Commissioner for Sopore and Pankaj Saxena as Special Inspector General to defuse the tense situation.

On Monday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had asked Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to help end violence in the state.

Expressing concern over civilians becoming victims of police action in the Kashmir Valley, Abdullah invited Chidambaram to visit the state.

Both Chidambaram and Abdullah agreed on the need to bring an immediate end to the cycle of violence.

Kashmir has recently seen a spurt of violence, as a result of which paramilitary forces have been compelled to use force against people partaking in anti-State activities. (ANI)