Jammu and Kashmir is facing a shutdown today as a protest against the death of civilians caused by a bomb blast on Sunday. The bomb blast took place in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir and caused the death of 6 civilians and injured 40.
The Separatists, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik called for this protest under the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL.)
The bomb blast took place after 3 militants were killed in an encounter on Sunday in the Kulgam district. The impact of the blast was severe and among the injured, 11 were taken to a nearby hospital. Four out of the eleven were in a critical condition and had to be shifted to Srinagar.
The civilians who died were Ubaid Laway, Uzair Ahmad, Mansoor Ahmad, Talib Maqbool, Tajamul Ahmad and Ishrad Ahmad.
The Separatists blamed the security forces for the massive attack as the forces left the encounter site without scrutinizing it for any leftover pieces of unexploded shells.
Although the police force restricted the civilians from visiting the encounter site before the area was cleaned up, the civilians entered the site. The police force further said, “We had asked people not go there but hundreds rushed there and it was when the shell went off.” In addition, the officer said, “Yes, it is our responsibility to clear and sanitise encounter site before we withdraw from there. We are looking into all aspects.”
The investigation has begun and the cause of the explosion is suspected to be a rocket propelled grenade or a mortar shell used during the encounter.
