Kashmir was on edge on Sunday, a day after seven civilians were killed in firing by security forces in Pulwama after an encounter.
The Army warned people against marching towards its headquarters in Srinagar on Monday on a call given by separatists.
“Loss of any civilian life is always painful. The public is advised not to pay heed to the misleading call by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL). The Army would foil all evil attempts of militant-separatist-Pakistan nexus to pit the civilian population against the forces,” said the Srinagar-based Army spokesman.
Accusing the Army of using “disproportionate force”, the separatist JRL, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, on Saturday asked people to march towards the Army headquarters in Srinagar’s Badamibagh.
“We ask New Delhi to stop the massacres and resolve the Kashmir dispute,” said the JRL, whose shutdown call on Sunday affected life in the Valley.
JKLF chief Malik, who has gone underground, said the authorities were arresting his supporters ahead of the march.
Security has been beefed up in the wake of the separatists’ call. K. Vijay Kumar, Adviser to the Governor, asked security agencies to exercise restraint and avoid civilian casualties during anti-militancy operations, said an official. Pulwama was put under curfew on Sunday. Internet service was also stopped in the Valley.
Published - December 16, 2018 10:18 pm IST
