11 Dead as Clashes Rock Kashmir Over Burhan Wani's Killing

At least 11 people were killed and several others including security personnel were injured as clashes rocked Kashmir on Saturday over the gunning down of militant commander Burhan Wani.

Violent mobs attacked installations of police and paramilitary forces at various places in the Valley and set ablaze several buildings including three police installations.

Eight were killed in "retaliatory" firing as mobs attacked security personnel. The Jammu & Kashmir police said they acted with restraint even in the face of violence from the side of the protesters.

"The focus is on making an appeal to people to stay calm, we want to prevent loss of young lives. Police acted with restraint and did nor retaliate even when a police station was set on fire," ADGP SM Sahai said.

Three policemen were also missing after a large mob attacked a police station, set it ablaze and used its weaponary to shoot and injure three cops, police said

Authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended mobile internet services to contain the volatile situation. The Amarnath Yatra was also suspended in view of the worsening situation, with police saying it will be resumed "as soon as it is possible to ensure security of yatris".

As many as 50,000 people turned up as Burhan, the poster boy of the Hizbul Mujahideen, was laid to rest in his native place Tral. There was no deployment of security forces in Tral and adjoining areas to avoid a confrontation with the people coming to participate in the funeral.

Separatist leaders were, however, stopped from proceeding to Tral to address mourners.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm while expressing "profound" grief and agony over the deaths during the protests and asked security forces to avoid use of disproportionate force for crowd control.

Train services between Baramulla in Kashmir and Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountain range have also been suspended for the day as the trains have been targeted by mobs in the past.

Shops, private offices, business establishments and petrol pumps were shut, while government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance. Public transport was off the roads.

Educational institutions in the Valley were closed on account of the ongoing summer vacations. Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and Central University of Kashmir have postponed examinations.

(With inputs from PTI)