Normal life remained affected in Kashmir on third consecutive day following separatists’ call to commemorate death anniversary of JKlF founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru who were both executed in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in February month of 1984 and 2013 respectively.
Shops, business establishments and private offices and tuition centers remained closed and public transport was off the roads. Many private vehicles were plying on roads and the attendance in Government offices was affected.
The shutdown was called by both factions of Hurriyat Conference, JKlF and pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen to observe 32nd anniversary of JKlF founder Maqbool Bhat, who was executed in Tihar jail on February 11, 1984 for his involvement in the murder of an intelligence officer.
Militants in 1990 shot death Neil Kanth Ganjoo, a district judge who had pronounced death sentence against Bhat.
Bhat, like Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was put to gallows on February 9, 2013, was secretly buried in the premises of Tihar Jail. Their relatives and separatist groups demand return of the mortal remains. Even as mainstream People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Nationa;l Conference (NC) also supported the demand, this year they chose to remain silent on the issue.
The authorities placed restrictions in areas under seven police stations in Srinagar district besides other major towns to stem public protests and maintain law and order. Restrictions were also imposed in north Kashmir’s Sopore and Baramulla towns and Bhat’s native village Trehgam where his step-mother Shahmali lives. The authorities put several separatist leaders under house-detention while JKlF Chairman Yasin Malik, who was taken into custody on February 9, has been remanded to judicial custody for a week.
The authorities had announced to suspend train services between Baramulla and Banihal town due to the law and order situation.
Police said there was no report of any untoward incident from any quarter of Valley.