Shutdown in Kashmir Valley continued on Thursday amid increased flow of transport on roads and incidents of stone-pelting while four persons were held in Pulwama district over bank loot.Majority of shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained close in Srinagar’s civil lines and uptown areas but passenger vehicles, cabs, auto-rickshaws and private vehicles were plying normally in clear defiance of shutdown. Adequate numbers of forces personnel were deployed to maintain law and order in Lal Chowk and other sensitive areas.The Old City areas falling under five police station areas – Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Rainwari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar – were put under thick security blanket to prevent any outbreak of protests or clashes by authorities. In all these areas, private transport, auto-rickshaws and some cabs were seen plying smoothly. The civilian movement was also moderate. At 4 pm, clashes erupted at Nowhatta between youth and retreating forces men. Police lobbed some teargas shells towards youth.Reports of shutdown were received from all other districts of Kashmir Valley but private and inter-district transport remained unaffected despite shutdown.
At Model Town Sopore, some masked youth resorted to heavy stone-pelting on passenger cabs and private vehicles along Kupwara highway and ransacked the glasses. Later police arrived at the scene and chased away them.In the meanwhile, clashes erupted at Newa area of Pulwama district after forces including army and SOG laid a cordon in the area, suspecting presence of militants. However, local residents came out of their houses and pelted stones on forces men, ensuing clashes. Police lobbed teargas canisters and later the forces lifted the cordon from the area. Reports of search and cordon operation were also received from Tujjar area of Sopore.Police’s SOG in Pulwama district raided Chewa Kalan and detained four persons identified as Tanveer Ahmad Wani, Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Iqbal Wani from Chewa Kalan over their alleged role in transporting unidentified gunmen to JK Bank branch Maloora in Budgam district for robbery of nearly 13 lakh cash three days ago. The SOG accused these persons of transporting the gunmen in two vehicles. Sources said the investigation and question is underway.(GNS)