Tension continues in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, April 4 (IANS) Heavy deployment of security forces was made in Srinagar and other sensitive places in the Kashmir Valley to maintain peace and law and order, even though the separatists did not call for a shutdown, officials said.

The authorities decided to close all educational institutions and postpone exams scheduled for Wednesday as tension continued in the Kashmir Valley.

Train services have also been suspended for the third consecutive day.

Traffic on the otherwise busy Srinagar-Sonamarg road remained suspended for the second day on Wednesday.

Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik have announced a march to Shopian town to express solidarity with the people there.

Twenty people including 13 militants, four civilians and three soldiers were killed in south Kashmir in three gunfights on Sunday.

Geelani and Mirwaiz have been placed under house arrest while Malik has been lodged in Srinagar central jail to prevent their participation in protests and marches.

Shops, public transport and other businesses remained mostly shut in Srinagar and other major towns in the Kashmir Valley. 

Private transport, however, moved in uptown and outskirts in Srinagar.

A 23-year-old youth killed in clashes with the security forces in Kangan town was buried in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A complete protest shutdown marred normal life in Ganderbal district following the death of the youth.

The District Magistrate of Ganderbal has ordered a magisterial probe into the youth's killing while police also ordered a departmental enquiry to ascertain facts about the incident.

Clashes had broken out in Kangan on Tuesday immediately after the youth's body was taken there.