Censorship

Riyaz Naikoo Killing: Mobile telephone, internet remains censored on third consecutive day

Srinagar: Mobile telephone services and internet facilities remain suspended in Kashmir on the third consecutive day, as authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in most parts of the valley on Friday.

The move as per police officials is to curb “rumour mongering” and avoid street protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo.

Calls, for now, are only possible on government-run BSNL mobile phone numbers.

Concertina wires and heavy deployment of forces personnel could be seen on the roads and only people with movement passes were out of their homes.

Officials said while the government is strictly enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown, the ‘additional restrictions were imposed on Friday to ensure that the day passes off peacefully’.

Restrictions were imposed soon after the news about Riyaz Naikoo’s killing spread.

People gathered around the house where Hizb commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed. Naikoo was killed in a gun battle with Indian armed forces, who used heavy gunfire which resulted in three houses being completely damaged. (FPK Photo/Syed Shahriyar.)

A civilian was killed and 15 others were injured clashes with armed forces near the gunfight site in Pulwama, after Hizb commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed in a gun battle.

Naikoo was killed after being trapped in a village in South Kashmir as the armed forces launched three operations in different areas of the district, officials said on Wednesday.

He carried a reward on his head, and his killing is considered a big blow to Hizbul’s operations in the Valley.

Naikoo was considered a stealth master, and gave the armed forces a tough time, successfully carrying out a series of attacks in the last few years.

He was working under the code name Mohammad Bin Qasim and became the operational chief commander of the Hizb after successor of Burhan Wani, Mohammad Yasin Itoo alias Mehmood Ghaznavi, was killed in August 2017.

In the gun battle, Indian armed forces used heavy gunfire which resulted in three houses being completely damaged.

 

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