Amarnath Yatra halted, curfew in parts of Valley after protests

Srinagar: The annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu has been halted, as the Kashmir Valley continues to be tense after four people were killed in firing by the Border Security Force in the Ramban area on Thursday.

Almost 1,000 pilgrims have already reached Jammu from various parts of the country for the yatra. They have been lodged at various camps for now.

There is curfew in major towns in the valley after widespread protests over the Ramban firing incident. Security has been ramped up. Separatists have called a three-day bandh starting today.

Yesterday, the BSF fired at a group of people protesting at their station in Gool town of Ramban district, around 145 kilometres from the capital, Srinagar. They were protesting against the alleged manhandling of a religious leader by the security personnel on Wednesday evening.

The BSF said they fired in self defence when the protesters tried to storm their camp. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the firing and said yesterday, "I assure that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action shall be dealt with strictly."

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The incident sparked demonstrations and clashes that spread to Srinagar. Banihal tunnel has been closed after protesters blocked the 300-kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway yesterday. Mobile and Internet services that were suspended yesterday have been restored.

In swift action, the Collector of Ramban has been transferred. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the firing saying, it was "highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters."

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Nearly two weeks ago, two people were killed in Bandipore district in north Kashmir allegedly in Army firing.

In a separate incident on Thursday, suspected militants attacked the vehicle of the former Director of the Srinagar-based Sher-i-Kashmir medical institute at Pampore. He is critically injured; his two security guards were killed on the spot.