Life crippled in Bandipora, educational institutions shut, internet snapped

Srinagar, Oct 11: Life came to a halt as shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in north Kashmir district of Bandipora, where two Air Force Garud personnel and two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter. Meanwhile, all educational institutions, including government and private schools, were deserted as students preferred to stay indoors in view of the tense situation in Bandipora, where cellular and internet services have been suspended as a precautionary measure. Even though there was no strike call given by any organisation, business and other activities were paralysed and traffic was off the road though some private vehicles were plying in the exterior areas of the district. Additional security forces have been deployed in entire Bandipora to prevent any protests and maintain law and order. Two Air Force Garud personnel and two militants, believed to be foreigners, were killed in a fierce encounter in Bandipora which ensued in the wee hours on Wednesday. However, reports of normalcy were received from other parts of north Kashmir. UNI