Separatist call for strike against killings in JK's Sophian

Separatists today called for a strike and a protest march to the Civil Secretariat here tomorrow over the death of civilians in a clash between protestors and security forces after an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Sophian district.

The secretariat in the state's summer capital opens tomorrow after the bi-annual shifting of capitals between Jammu and Srinagar.

"The strike will continue across Kashmir tomorrow against the killings in Shopian," a statement issued by the separatists, under the banner of the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), said here.

Five Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including a top commander and a fresh recruit -- a university professor -- were killed in the encounter today, even as five civilians died during clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies near the encounter site in Sophian, the police said.

The JRL comprises Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik.

It asked people to march peacefully to the Civil Secretariat where sit-in would be staged by the JRL.

"We appeal to the people, traders, lawyers, civil society, students and employees to march peacefully to the civil secretariat where the leadership will hold a sit-in as a protest against the unabated killings," the statement said.