Srinagar: Kashmir valley on Monday is observing a complete shutdown to protest the civilian and militant killings in southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday.

Life came to halt in wake of the shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership against the “havoc” at Laroo in Kulgam district.

Witnesses said that all shops, educational institutions, and other business establishments remained closed. A very thin movement of private transport was visible on roads.

A file picture of Residency Road in Srinagar during shutdown. Picture: Jahangir Shah

Sources from the other major district headquarters in northern and southern Kashmir said that a complete shutdown is being observed in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Islamabad, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts.

Government has imposed strict restrictions in Downtown Srinagar to foil “pro-freedom” protests. Massive deployments of forces has been made at several places including Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Maharaj Gunj, Gojwara, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and other areas of the Old City. Forces have laid razor wires to restrict movement of people.

Six civilian and three armed youth were killed on Sunday in Kulgam district. While the three armed youth were killed in a gunfight with government forces, the slain civilian were killed in a blast at the gunfight site at Laroo. Dozens of civilians have been injured during and in the post encounter clashes at and near the gunfight site. Many injured have received grievous injuries after government forces fire bullets at the indiscriminately and also used pellets to stop protests.