Normal life was disrupted in Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley due to complete shutdown against the against the killing of a civilian in alleged police firing in Sarore area of Samba district earlier this week. The call for shutdown was issued by the Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar, Farooq Ahmad Kitchloo.Reports said shops and other business establishments remained shut while vehicular movement was badly affected. Amid shutdown people staged protests at several places denouncing the killing of a civilian Muhammad Yaqoob who according to eyewitnesses was killed in police firing during a demolition drive in Sarore area of Bari Brahmana.These protests were led by Imam Jamia Masjid Farooq Ahmed Kitchloo and Iman Umar Masjid , Abdul Qayoom Mattoo.
The protesters alleged that on the behest of RSS and BJP administration is busy in harassing Muslim community in Jammu Division. Protesters also raised Pro-Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) slogans and denounced the arrest of SAR Geelani, Kaniyah Kumar, Umar Khalid and other students.The protestors blocked all the roads, including the main Kishtwar-Doda -Batote highway at Malipeth and other link roads like Bunistan, Shaheedi Chowk, Dak banglow, Hidyal by burning tyres.
The protesters demanded judicial probe into the killing of Mohammed Yaqoob and appealed to Governor N N Vohra to personally monitor the situation. While addressing the gathering, Imam Abdul Qayoom accused the district administration and BJP MLAs of being “desperate” to create trouble for the minorities.“Since they formed the government in the state, BJP wanted to evict the Gujjars from the land under their possession,” alleged the protesters. (CNS)