Just five hours ahead of Zubin Mehta's Bavarian State Orchestra musical concert at Shalimar Bagh, four people were killed in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing, 52 kms away from here at Gagran in Shopian on Saturday afternoon.

Inspector general of police (IGP) Kashmir range, A G Mir told the TOI that unidentified militants opened fire on the CRPF camp at Gagran in Shopian district at about 1PM today. The CRPF, in retaliation killed four people whose identity was yet to be ascertained. The IG said that weapons were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Refuting the police version, locals said that the four people killed were innocent civilians. The locals claimed that five youth on two motor cycles were riding fast when the CRPF men deployed in a nearby camp opened fire on them. Three boys on one of the motor cycles died on the spot. One of the students on the other bike, Tawseef Ahmad Bhat succumbed to his injuries. Another student Adil Ahmad Wachkoo is battling for his life in Srinagar hospital, Shopian resident Khalid Ahmad said.

The killings have triggered massive protests in Shopian district.

Meanwhile, unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade on a police party at Pulwama market in south Kashmir leaving seven people including policemen injured.

Prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call for a strike, in protest against the Zubin Mehta musical concert, evoked partial response across the valley. Private vehicles plied and shops at many places like Santnagar, Ram Bagh, Solina and several uptown areas remained open on Saturday. The shutdown was however, complete in old city localities.


Srinagar turns fortress ahead of Zubin Mehta's concert

Stringent security arrangements were in place on Saturday across the city to ensure smooth conduct of the music concert featuring world renowned orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta.

All the vehicles entering the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and surrounding areas are being frisked in view of the the musical event 'Ehsaas-e-Kashmir' in Shalimar Garden on the banks of Dal Lake later in the evening.

The authorities sealed off the famous Boulevard Road along the banks of Dal Lake, leading the venue of the concert, on Saturday morning as a precautionary measure following threats from little-known militant outfits.

A strike has been called by hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday to protest against the music concert by the German Embassy but there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the valley.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutes remained closed in most parts of the valley, sources said.

Public transport remained off the roads but some private vehicles could be seen plying, the sources said.