Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sabzar Bhat was killed

situation here

killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat

Hundreds of Kashmiri youth defy shutdown; appear for Army exam

NEW DELHI: A day after, hundreds of Kashmiri youth on Sunday participated in the Army recruitment examination amid separatists' shutdown call."Despite the, we decided to go for the recruitment rally to give opportunity to the youth to serve Army," an army official said, adding the recruitment drive is conducted across the country."We had received 815 applications from Srinagar and Pattan out of which 799 were able to reach examination centres today," he said.He also said that the youth have already cleared both physical and medical tests and today they are appearing for the written test.The Indian Army is conducting a Common Entrance Written Examination for the post of Junior Commissioned Officers and other associated ranks.Earlier, authorities in Kashmir had imposed curfew-like restrictions in many parts of the valley to maintain law and order in view of the protests following thein an encounter with security forces.The restrictions have been imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar, officials said.Restrictions have been imposed in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma police station areas of the city till further orders as a precautionary measure in view of the prevailing law and order situation.However, the district administration has said that the admit cards of students appearing in competitive examinations today would be treated as curfew passes, while the staff posted as invigilators can use their identity cards as curfew passes."Those students in possession of admit cards will be allowed during the curfew. The admit cards will act as permission to move during restrictions," a senior police official said.The district administration has also ordered closure of all colleges and higher secondary schools in Srinagar for tomorrow.Restrictions have also been imposed in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in north Kashmir, the officials said.They said restrictions on movement of people under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir to maintain law and order.The officials said the curbs had to be imposed in these areas as a pre-emptive measure to prevent spread of violent protests which took place yesterday following the killing of Bhat and another terrorist in the encounter in Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district.Elsewhere in the valley, normal life was hit due to strike called by separatist groups.At least 30 persons were injured in violent clashes between protestors and security forces in various parts of the valley following the killing of the two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists.The separatists have called for a two-day shutdown to protest the killing of the two terrorists.The authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the valley, while the outgoing call facility on prepaid numbers has also been snapped as a precautionary measure.On Saturday, the Army confirmed killing 10 heavily armed intruders and terrorists in last 24 hours. It said that relentless operations by security forces have defeated desperate attempts by Pakistan and Pakistan sponsored agents to spread terror in the Jammu and Kashmir in the run up to the holy month of Ramazan."In the last 24 hours, 10 heavily armed intruders and terrorists have been successfully eliminated. In an ongoing counter-infiltration operation on the Line of Control in the Rampur sector, a group of 6 armed intruders have been intercepted and eliminated. In another counter-terrorist operation based on specific intelligence generated from local sources in Tral, South Kashmir has so far resulted in killing 2 terrorists," said a release by the Northern Command.