Protesters on Monday tried to set an army school on fire in Hajin area of Bandipora district in Kashmir over the killing of two youths in alleged army firing in a nearby village.
"A group of miscreants tried to set a school building on fire at Hajin but the blaze was put out by fire tenders in time," a police spokesman said.
He said there was no major damage done to the building by the miscreants who were chased away by law enforcing agencies. However, sources said furniture of two classrooms was damaged in the incident.
Local residents of Hajin and Sumbal areas of Bandipora district have protesting since Sunday against the killing of two youths in alleged army firing at Markundal village.
While police have registered a case against unidentified army personnel, the army has instituted an inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, normal life across Kashmir was affected because of the strike called by separatist groups.
Separatist groups including both factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front called for a complete shutdown to protest against the killings. Shops, business establishments, educational institutions, banks and private offices remained closed due to the strike. Public transport was off the roads in most parts of the Valley but buses carrying government employees to the civil secretariat plied at the designated time in the morning. Attendance in government offices was also thinner than usual due to the strike.
Image: A security personnel stands guard in Srinagar
Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
