Shutdown in Kashmir on Guru’s sixth death anniversary

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

Reports said hundreds of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers patrolled the streets of Srinagar and other volatile areas of Kashmir during a strike called by separatists to protest the secret execution of Afzal. Shops, public transport, and other business establishments remained closed in the city and other district headquarters of the Valley today.

Reports said despite restrictions, mourners - including some second-run separatist leaders - reached at the residence of Afzal in Jageer Ghat village of Sopore in north Kashmir to offer condolences and demand his mortal remains. After the execution, Afzal Guru's body was buried within the precincts of the jail. He is survived by his wife, Tabassum and 18-year old son, Ghalib.

Various roads in the city were blocked with rolls of concertina wires with security personnel manning the barricades. Most of the separatist leaders had either been detained in various police stations or kept under house arrest to thwart protests.

Most of the separatist leaders had either been kept under house arrest to thwart protests. Separatists had called for a 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 Monday demanding the return of mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat, founder of the JKLF, who was hanged in the same prison on 11 February 1984.

Police said the situation remained normal throughout Kashmir.