Shutdown in Downtown Srinagar against custodial death of Awantipora teacher
Srinagar: Parts of Downtown Srinagar on Tuesday witnessed a spontaneous shutdown in the wake of custodial death of a south Kashmir teacher.
Reports said that shopkeepers downed their shutters in downtown areas after the announcement was made from inside Jamia Masjid asking people to observe shutdown. Shutdown was also being observed in Maisuma.
Meanwhile intense clashes broke out between government forces and civilian protesters in Awantipora area of Pulwama district following the killing.
Reports said that forces retaliated by aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
On Tuesday morning, reports poured in that a youth, identified as Rizwan Asad son of Asadullah Pandit was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police two days ago.
The slain’s brother Zulkarnain told Kashmir Reader that following Rizwan’s arrest, police informed them that he has been taken to CARGO (SOG Camp) in Srinagar.
“Today morning we came to know that he has been killed,” he said. “Yes, my brother was associated with Jama’at-e-Islami and so is our Father.”
He said it is not a crime. “My brother has been killed in police custody in cold blood.” Rizwan was a principal of a private school in the area.
According to various reports, the Inspector General of Police has requested for a magisterial probe into the incident.
