Amid a spontaneous shutdown, a protest rally was taken out in Hajin town of Bandipora district in north Kashmir on Saturday against the brutal killing of a civilian.The slain civilian was identified as Yaqoob Ahmad Wagay (38). Wagay, according to his family, was killed inside his house on Thursday night by five gunmen.Hundreds of protesters, including relatives of the slain civilian, took out a protest march from Prang village towards Police station Hajin where they held a sit-in to demand punishment for his killers.Meanwhile Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Hajin town and adjoining villages of Naidkai, Madwan, Prang, Shahgund, Vijpora, Markundal and Sumbal.Family members said that the two of the masked gunmen worked knives on his throat while the other three gagged his wife and seven-year old son after violently waking them up.Police blamed militants for the killed; however an audio purportedly released by the militants on social media condemned the killing, claiming that it was the handiwork of “Indian agencies to create rift between public and the militants.” (PTK)