Srinagar, Dec 15: Some parts of downtown Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, observed complete shutdown on Thursday to protest against the killing of 35-year-old trader by alleged stone pelters.
All shops and business establishments in Nowhatta, Gojwara, Jamia Masjid market, Hawal, Malaratta, Khawaja Bazaar, Rajouri, Bohri Kadal, Saraf Kadal and other adjacent areas in the historic town in Srinagar remained closed to protest the killing of the trader.
The 35-year-old trader Tariq Ahmad, was critically injured when he was hit on the head with a cricket bat by the alleged group of stone pelters on December 3. The group was enforcing a shutdown in the Nowhatta area to protest the arrest of youth. Tariq sustained critical injuries in the assault and was rushed to Kashmir’s leading hospital SKIMS, Soura, where he died.
The shopkeepers and residents of the Nowhatta area in downtown Srinagar have expressed their anger and anguish over the killing of the trader and asked the government to identify and punish the culprits.
The killing of the trader has evoked widespread condemning with the Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah describing it as inhuman and barbaric.