Tension prevails in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, June 3 (PTI) Tension prevailed in India's
northern state Kashmir Valley Wednesday as people defied
restrictions and tried to take out demonstrations against the
death of two women in Shopian following which police used
teargas and batons to quell them.

Authorities deployed thousands of security personnel
across Kashmir Valley as the strike called by hardline
Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the death of two
women under mysterious circumstances entered the third day
Wednesday.

Groups of people took to streets at nearly a dozen
places in the city including Koker Bazar, Batmaloo, Barzalla,
Channapora, Bemina, Nowgam and Alikadal but were chased by
police who used batons and teargas after the protestors turned
violent and pelted stones, official sources said.

At Koker Bazar in the heart of the city, the
protestors burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The sources said groups of people also took to streets
at various places in Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara,
Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts but were chased away by
police.

Police and paramilitary personnel have been given strict
instructions not to allow people to assemble or create law and
order problem at any place, the sources said.

Life in the valley remained crippled due to the strict
restrictions imposed by the authorities coupled with the
strike called by the Hurriyat.

Government offices, educational institutions, banks,
courts and semi-government institutions besides shops and
business markets remained closed in the city and elsewhere in
the valley for the third successive day Wednesday. Both public
and private transport also remained off the roads.

A police spokesman denied reports that curfew has been
imposed in any part of the valley.

"Curfew has not been imposed in any part of the valley
but security forces have been instructed to implement
prohibitory orders," the spokesman said.

Reports from district towns said security forces and
police are patrolling the deserted streets in Anantnag,
Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Pulwama,
shopian and kulgam to maintain law and order.

Rejecting the probe ordered by the state government in
the death of two women, Geelani had extended the strike called
on Monday and asked people to hold peaceful protests.

Bodies of the two -- Nelofar (22) and Asiya (17) were
recovered on Saturday after they went missing from their
orchards in Shopian, sparking off massive protests in the town
and adjoining areas for third day Wednesday.

The state government ordered a judicial inquiry into
the double murder case on Monday.PTI