Security beefed up across Valley following killing of 5 migrant labourers

A civilian was killed and five others injured when Pakistani troops opened fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. The Indian army gave a befitting response to the Pakistani aggression that started on Tuesday night, they added.

Officials further said that the injured have been admitted to a hospital.

Meanwhile, following a terror attack at Kulgam district security, in which five labourers from West Bengal were killed on Tuesday night, was stepped up across Kashmir, even as a complete shutdown disrupted normal life across the valley, officials said.

Security personnel along with a flying squad have been deployed in several areas in the city and across the valley, especially in South Kashmir.

The officials said random checking of vehicles and frisking of people was being done as part of the security drill. The officials said the security personnel were alert to thwart any attempts by anti-national elements to target non-locals or to derail peace in the valley.

Normal life remained affected across the Kashmir valley for the 87th day on Wednesday following the abrogation of Article 370. Clashes broke out at several places in Kashmir on Tuesday leaving several persons injured.

The clashes took place at a time when a delegation of European Union lawmakers is on a two-day visit to the valley.

The officials said markets remained closed on Wednesday, while public transport remained off the roads. Roadside vendors, who had regularly set up their stalls over the past two months, also did not turn up for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, they said.

The annual board examinations for class 10 and class 12 are being held as per schedule. Class 10 examinations began on Tuesday, while the class 12 exams are scheduled to start from Wednesday afternoon.

Landline and post-paid mobile phone services have been restored across the valley, but all Internet services continued to remain suspended since 5 August.

Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders including two former chief ministers — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been either detained or placed under house arrest. Also, the government has detained former chief minister and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah under the controversial Public Safety Act.

(With inputs from agencies)Srinagar