PIX: 3 militants, policeman killed in gunfight in Kashmir

Life in the Kashmir valley was affected on Monday by a protest shutdown against the killing of two youth in firing allegedly by the army on Sunday.

Monday’s protest shutdown had been called by the hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist groups.

Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of north Kashmir Bandipore district following clashes and protests on the second day running against the killing of two youth allegedly in army firing at Markundal village.

Protestors clashed with security forces and torched an army school in the area.

Shops and businesses in capital city and other towns remained shut so did the educational institutions and banks.

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State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a statement expressed grief over the death of two youngsters calling it gruesome that was eminently avoidable and needless.

"The deaths of Tariq Ahmad Laharwal and Irfan Ahmad Ganaie -- two youngsters at the peak of their lives and with so much to look forward to -- are tragic. They lengthen the symbolic shortening of the emotional distance, made possible by the railway tunnel, between Kashmiris and the country.  This is besides the fact that, by itself, life is sacred- a precious gift from the almighty. Losing it to needless violence is the ultimate tragedy and a loss that is irreparable,” the chief minister said.

“Those who dare to challenge this right, by omission or commission are made to pay a price, the kind that serves as a cautionary example to other," Omar Abdullah said.

Omar said, "The unwarranted deaths of Tariq and Irfan, harden my resolve and determination to make the state of Jammu and Kashmir into an example where life is sacred and the right to life is protected by the law.”

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Meanwhile three militants and a cop were killed in a fierce gunfight in south Kashmir Tral town while three security men were injured.

The gunfight erupted after troops of Rashtriya Rifles, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and the local police jointly surrounded a house in Medoora village on specific information about presence of militants inside it.

“Three militant of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit and a cop have been killed and four security men injured in the day-long encounter that ended this evening,” said a senior police officer.

“The operation was carried out with complete synergy between army, CRPF and police right from the stage of intelligence collection to its execution. The principal of zero collateral damage was adhered to during the entire operation. Security forces, despite coming under heavy volume of fire, exercised maximum restraint and gave adequate opportunity to the terrorists to surrender,” a defence spokesman said in a statement.