Kashmir shuts on Afzal Guru's death anniversary

Restrictions and shutdown in Kashmir on Friday marked the fifth death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was secretly hanged in Delhi's Tihar Jail this day in 2013.

Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) based United Jihad Council (UJC), an umbrella of various militant groups operating in Kashmir, had supported the protest shutdown.

 

Authorities had imposed restrictions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to prevent separatist-called protests with heavy deployment of paramilitary CRPF and police personnel, reports said.

 

Curfew like restrictions were imposed in Srinagar and other parts of Valley. Contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength in these areas.

 

In uptown areas, a complete shutdown was observed with all the shops, businesses and offices remaining closed. However, scarce movement of private vehicles was witnessed in uptown areas.

 

Reports said despite restrictions, mourners - including some second-rung separatist leaders - reached the residence of Afzal in Jageer Ghat village of Sopore in north Kashmir to offer condolences and demand his mortal remains.

 

Most of the separatist leaders had either been kept under house arrest to thwart protests. Separatists had called for strike on Friday to press their demand for the return of Afzal's mortal remains to his family. They have also called for a strike on Sunday demanding the return of mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat, founder of the JKLF, who was hanged in the same prison on 11 February 1984.