Train services remain suspended in Kashmir

Srinagar: Train services remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where three militants and four others were killed in two different encounters in Shopian and Pulwama on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, passing through south Kashmir, was through for one-way traffic.

All trains will remain off tracks in the Kashmir valley today also, a railway official told UNI.

However, there was no strike call today from separatists, who have called for "Shopian Challo" on Wednesday and shut down in the valley. They had called for strike against Shopian killings yesterday.

Railway official said that no train will run between Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region. Similarly, no train will operate on Srinagar-Badgam in central Kashmir to Baramulla in north, he said.

Train service has been suspended in the valley after a fresh directive was received from police late last night, he said, adding 'We are acting on the advice of police'. However, he said the decision was taken in the interest of passengers and railway property.

In the past railway property suffered heavy damage due to protests and demonstrators in the valley.

During last year, the train service was suspended for over 50 times partially or fully for security reasons.

However, in 2016, train service remained suspended for about six months during summer unrest.

Train service has become a very popular in the Kashmir valley which is being considered cheap, fast and safe.

Two militants of Lashkher-e-Toiba (LeT) and four others were killed in an encounter by Army in Shopian on Sunday evening while a Chief Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), involved in four fidayeen attacks, including on Sunjwan Army camp, was killed by security forces in Pulwama yesterday afternoon.

Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik had called for strike yesterday against the Shopian killing. The JRL have also called for a general strike on Wednesday against shifting of Kashmiri prisoners to outside jails. They have also given the call of 'Shopian Challo' tomorrow.