SRINAGAR: The third death anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged in New Delhis Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, was observed across Valley on Tuesday while amid restrictions, people observed a complete shutdown to mourn the death of Muhammad Afzal Guroo. The government had imposed restrictions in Maisuma and areas falling under the jurisdiction of five police stations of Old Srinagar City to thwart the possible protests.
In wake of the anniversary, Police had detained or confined to houses most of the pro- freedom leaders and launched a crackdown to arrest youth across Valley. Guru was secretly hanged and buried inside the Tihar Jail complex on 9 February 2013, triggering massive protests across Kashmir and Chenab Valley. About half a dozen people were killed during the protests while hundreds others injured. After Gurus hanging, the central government did not hand over his body to his family members and buried it inside the jail complex. Even the family of Guru had written to Government of India to hand over the body. The plea was however turned down.
Pro- freedom groups in Kashmir had called for complete shutdown on his anniversary seeking his mortal remains back from New Delhi. All the shops and business establishments, Coaching Institutes, Petrol Pumps remained shut while public transport did not ply on the roads. Stringent restrictions paralyzed normal life in Old Srinagar City where government forces were deployed in large numbers to thwart possible protests. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were also deployed in almost all the district headquarters and towns to bar people from protesting.
Police foiled separatists march to United Nations (UN) office and detained scores of them outside Press Enclave here. Shouting pro-freedom slogans, Democratic Political Movement activists led by Khawaja Firdous, gathered at Lal Chowk and staged demonstrations to protest against the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guroo. The protesters demanded that mortal remains of Muhammad Afzal Guroo should be returned to the family of Guroo.
The protesters urged UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to impress upon India to implement UN resolutions to resolve the vexed Kashmir issue.
As the protesters tried to march towards United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), contingents of police deployed in advance intercepted them and bundled them into already waiting police vehicles. Besides Khawaja Firdous police also detained Yar Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Yawar, Javaid Ahmed and Feroz Sarfaraz.
Police also detained chairman International Forum for Justice Muhammad Ahsan Untoo outside UN office. Untoo arrived at UN office to present a memorandum there, however police swung into action and besides detaining him also seized his banner depicting the photographs of Muhammad Afzal Guroo and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. Police also raided the house of Islamic Political Party Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Naqash but according to spokesperson of the party he was not present in the home.
Minor stone-pelting incidents were reported from Habbakadal Srinagar, Khanabal Anantnag, Magam Budgam and Bugam Kulgam.
Shutdown was also observed in Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Tral, Pampore, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Handwara and native town of Muhammad Afzal Guroo Sopore.
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