Valley shuts on Afzal’s death anniversary

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 9

The authorities had imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city while a shutdown was observed across the Valley today on the third death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The police said the situation remained peaceful across the Valley. The security forces were on high alert across Kashmir in view of the strike and shutdown call by separatists.

“There is no report of any violence in the Valley,” said a police spokesman.

In Srinagar, police and paramilitary personnel had imposed restrictions in old city and volatile Maisuma to thwart protests. All shops and businesses remained closed and public transport was hit by the shutdown.

A shutdown was also observed in north Kashmir’s Sopore, Afzal’s hometown. There was heavy deployment of security forces in the area.

Most of the separatist groups in Kashmir had called for a shutdown on Tuesday, the third death anniversary of Afzal Guru, and on Thursday, death anniversary of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat. Bhat was hanged on February 11, 1984.

Both Afzal and Bhat were hanged at Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Separatists leaders have been demanding the return of the mortal remains of Afzal and Bhat.

The authorities had on Monday detained JKLF chief Yasin Malik while separatist leaders Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan were placed under house arrest to thwart protests.

Many youths, who in the past have been involved in stone-throwing, were taken into preventive custody in many volatile parts of the Valley.