Nasir Khoda/Asif Iqbal Iqbal
KISHTWAR
In order to condemn the registration of FIRs against the two local Imams and several other people by the Kishtwar police as well as to condemn the civilian killings in Kashmir, the Majlis-e-Shoora, an amalgam of various Muslim organizations and Imams of various Masjids had called for a complete shutdown in Kishtwar district on Wednesday.
The shutdown call was given by Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed Kichloo last evening after the Shoora reached out at the consensus.
The committee had also taken the traders association Kishtwar into confidence before announcing the shutdown call.
Keeping in view of the strike call tomorrow, Kishtwar administration and police strengthened the security arrangements at key locations in sensitive areas.
It is pertinent to mention that Imam Umar Masjid Kishtwar Abdul Qayoom Mattoo, Imam Bunastan Masjid Hafiz Manzoor Ahmed Ganaie were among several booked by J&K police for sedition. Both are the members of Majlis-e-Shoora Kishtwar.
In the day long bandh, all the business establishments shuttered down while the operators of commercial vehicles kept their vehicles off the roads till evening whereas all schools remained closed in wake of the bandh call and to express their solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
As per reports, very thin attendance was recorded in government offices besides partial bandh was also observed by people from Hindu Community.
Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar lamented the government for killing of innocent civilians in Kashmir. He appealed not to use bullets on the people of Kashmir and restrain from killing the innocent protestors.
“The government must redress the grievance of Kashmir people and stop killings in valley,” said the Imam.
A police officer said that the bandh passed off peacefully whereas there was no report of any untoward incident during the day.
