Srinagar: Amid a complete shutdown in Sopore town in northern Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday against the killing of Hurriyat Conference (G) activist in the town last week, intense clashes erupted between the government forces and the local youth.

Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) activist Hakim-ul-Rahman Sultani was killed by “unidentified gunmen” near his house in Bomai area of Sopore on Sep 8.

Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had called for the shutdown against Sultani’s killing.

Local sources said that youth assembled at Arampora area of Sopore and shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. They pelted stones on government forces who were deployed in strength in the area.

They said that forces responded with tear gas shells triggering clashes.

Meanwhile all the shops and business establishments are shut in the town while traffic is off the roads.

The authorities have ordered closure of all educational institutions across Sopore division as “a precautionary measure”.