JK: Protests over the death of JKLF chief's cousin

Normal life came to a standstill in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas of Srinagar on Tuesday as the killing of a 35-year-old relative of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik under mysterious circumstances sparked off spontaneous protests in the city, official sources said.

The body of Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, cousin brother of Malik and brother of JKLF executive member Mehraj-ud-din, was recovered by the police from Shariefabad in Parimpora area on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday morning, the sources said.

Soon after the news of death of Sheikh, an auto-driver by profession, reached his Maisuma residence, groups of youth took to streets and indulged in stone-pelting, the sources said.

The protesters also went around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Koker Bazaar, Hari Singh High Street and other adjoining areas, forcing a complete shut down.

The police said preliminary investigations revealed that Sheikh was apparently strangulated.

"A case has been registered and investigations are on to ascertain the cause of his death and bring the culprits to book," the police said.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man's body was recovered by the police from the National Highway Tengpora in Batmaloo locality of central Srinagar on Tuesday. Police have registered a case and started investigations to ascertain the identity of the deceased and the cause of his death, the sources said.