Due to a firing incident in Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir, the death toll rose to three. One more critically injured civilian, said the officials.

Raja Begum, 54, who was admitted to the super specialty hospital, succumbed to a critical bullet injury, said the doctors at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar.

Earlier, 21-year old Nayeem Bhat and twenty-two year old Muhammad Iqbal died after clashes erupted between a stone pelting mob and the security forces in Handwara town.

The trouble began with locals alleging that an Army jawan molested a girl in the town. Due to further increase in the tension because of another death report, authorities have imposed curfew in Handwara town.

After separatist leaders called for a valley-wide shutdown to protest Handwara firing, authorities imposed restrictions in six police station areas of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj, Safa Kadal and Maisuma in Srinagar city.

Farooq Ahmad Lone Srinagar District magistrate said that the restrictions are not applicable to the Sikh community members. They are free to move about in restricted areas due to the Sikh festival of Baisakhi.

- Sumana