Sabzar Ahmad Bhat's encounter: Curfew in valley, all under control

RATSUNA, TRAL: Authorities in Kashmir imposed curfew at several places, suspended Internet and blocked prepaid mobile connections in an effort to avoid trouble following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat.

On Sunday morning, hundreds participated in the funeral prayers of Bhat at Ratsuna, Tral, even as Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik called a two-day strike to protest against the killing of the terrorist in an encounter.

Security forces were deployed across the valley, train services suspended and examinations of the Kashmir University, Islamic University of Science and Technology and other institutions were also postponed due to the strike. For a state administration apprehensive of a repeat of the violent protests that followed the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in July, things have mostly been under control.

"Except for six incidents of stone pelting in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Sopore, situation across the valley remained peaceful and under control till filing of this report," a police spokesperson said.

At Bhat's funeral, a suspected terrorist made a surprise appearance and vowed to avenge the incident where an army team tied a man to a vehicle to escape stone pelting. The terrorist, brandishing what he called a grenade, said he survived the encounter in which Bhat and another terrorist were killed. There has been no troop deployment in this area since Saturday afternoon, when the encounter ended.