Curfew in Srinagar after youth's killing

A curfew was imposed in some parts of the Srinagar city to maintain law and order following a youth's killing in firing by security forces here Wednesday, an official said Thursday.

"A curfew will remain in force today (Thursday) in Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Zadibal, M.R. Gunj and Kralkhud areas," a senior police officer told IANS.

One youth was killed and another youth and a woman were injured in Nawa Kadal area of the city Wednesday evening when a security detail opened fire. The security men were escorting election officials at the end of day's polling in the city when some stone pelters attacked them, police said.

Police said that the youth killed in the incident was Bashir Ahmad, 25, and not Wasim Ahmad, as stated earlier.

The two injured have been identified as Nazir Ahmad and Halima, the woman who was hit by a pellet fired by the security personnel.

The incident happened after the voting process peacefully ended at 5 p.m. in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Both the ruling National Conference and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party expressed satisfaction and praised the Election Commission and the local administration for impartiality and fair conduct of the polls.

Separatist leaders, including hardline Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik have called for a protest shutdown in the Kashmir Valley against the youth's killing.

Shops, educational institutions, public transport and other businesses remained closed in Srinagar while banks, post offices and government offices functioned normally.

Kashmir University has announced postponement of all exams scheduled for the day.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere so far.