Shutdown, clashes in Sopore on second day

Srinagar: Violent protests amid a complete shutdown continued for the second running day Saturday in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district against the killing of three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an overnight gunfight on Thursday.Like Friday, correspondent from north Kashmir said, a complete shutdown was observed in the town against the killings. All shops, offices, educational institutes, banks and financial institutions, petrol pumps remained closed for second consecutive day to protest the killings, even as no pro-freedom group or militant outfit had called for a strike.The strike also affected the movement of traffic in the town.Meanwhile, clashes broke out between angry protesters and forces in bus stand area of the town.Correspondent quoting eyewitnesses said that groups of youth this morning assembled near the bus stand and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting pro-freedom slogans, the protesters pelted rocks and stones on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and police that were deployed in strength in the area to quell protests. The forces, eyewitnesses said chased away the protesters.