SRINAGAR: Stage is set for a confrontation between security forces and protesters here on Monday with separatists giving a call for a march to Army’s Chinar Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh here against the killing of seven civilians in Pulwama on Saturday. The civilians were killed in firing when they tried to disrupt an operation by security forces against three Hizbul militants in Pulwama’s Kharpora Sirnoo.Srinagar remained on the edge ahead of the proposed march with authorities imposing restrictions in 10 police station areas even as a spokesperson of the Army appealed to people not to heed to separatists’ call and warned that all attempts of “terrorists-separatists-Pakistan nexus to pit the civilian population against the security forces” would be foiled.While prohibitory orders have been imposed in 10 police station areas in Srinagar and in Pulwama, the Jammu-Srinagar stretch of the National Highway 44 connecting Pantha Chowk, Sonawar and Dalgate Road would be completely closed for traffic. The authorities also suspended train services in Kashmir and internet facilities in several parts of the state. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a conglomerate of various Kashmiri separatist groups, had given a call for the march to the Army cantonment following the Saturday killings.Condemning the separatists’ call, the Army spokesperson appealed to youths not to fall prey to such “misleading, anti-national” forces, saying: “Loss of any civilian life is always painful for the security forces. However, the vested interests are continuously at work to instigate and mobilize gullible youths to encounter sites.”‘Terrorists were involved in cases of gruesome killings’These terrorists were involved in many cases of gruesome killings of innocent Kashmiris, including civilians, SPOs, police personnel and other security forces personnel on leave,” the Army spokesperson said.He said forces always made every attempt to avoid any loss of civilian lives in crossfire and also tried their best to minimize collateral damage to property. The Army, along with the security agencies and civil administration, was “fighting terrorism and proxy-war sponsored by Pakistan and its proxies in Kashmir”.The spokesperson said the forces wanted to bring peace and normalcy in the valley with the support of the 'awaam' (people). He pointed out that the forces had made huge sacrifices in their endeavour to bring peace to Kashmir. “Indian Army is always with the people of Kashmir. The public is once again advised not to pay heed to this misleading call by JRL,” the spokesperson added.The Badami Bagh base houses the GOC and many senior military officers.The JRL, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik , had given a call for a three-day shutdown in the valley.

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