SRINAGAR Kashmir Valley on Saturday observed a complete strike on the call by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on sixth hanging anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru.
Afzal Guru, who was hailing from Doabgah Sopore in north Kashmirs Baramulla district, was hanged secretly on 9 February 2013. His mortal remains were also not handed to the family and was buried in Tihar jail.
The normal life came to a girdling halt across Kashmir as all commercial establishments including shops and other business establishments were closed while very thin traffic was seen on the roads. Most of the streets including Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Jehangir Chowk wore deserted look with hardly any vehicle seen plying on the roads.
Authorities also placed barricades at Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) and at Regal Chowk while strict curbs were imposed in Maisuma area of uptown as well as various old Srinagar areas that include Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rajouri Kadal, Nawa Kadal, Kawdara and other adjoining areas.
Reports said that at many places concertina wires were placed on roads and people were not allowed to proceed.
Reports of shutdown was observed in all the districts including Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam was received also.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest last night while octogenarian leader, Syed Ali Geelani who heads Hurriyat Confrence (G) remained confined in his residence while Yasin Malik was detained and lodged in a police station.
The JRL comprising both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKL had urged the people of Kashmir to observe complete shutdown on February 9 as well as 11 to mark the martyrdom anniversaries of Guru and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat respectively.
According a statement, the JRL also appealed people to offer funeral prayers in absentia for Bhat, Guru and all other martyrs on February 10 across Kashmir.
New Delhi not only hanged these Kashmiris at gallows but also has kept their mortal remains under its custody till now. The struggle, passion for freedom and sacrifices of these great Kashmiris will always remain a beacon of light for Kashmiris, leaders had said in a joint statement.
PDP leader visits Afzal Guroos family
A Peoples Democratic Party leader visited family of slain Muhammad Afzal Guru at Doabgah Sopore on Saturday.
Nazir Ahmed Itoo visited the family on the directions of party president Mehbooba Mufti, a local news agency quoting sources in PDP said.
They said PDP delegation led by Nazir Ahmed Itoo visited Sopore and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. He appealed Government of India to return the mortal remains of Guru on humanitarian grounds. It is not only obligation but also mandatory for Government of India to handover the body of any accused to the family. Animosity ends with the death of a person. New Delhi should return the mortal remains of Muhammad Afzal Guu without any delay, he said, adding, Denying mortal remains to family has hurt the sentiments of people of Kashmir, Itoo told reporters outside the house of Guru. Prior to last assembly elections, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed used to claim that had he been the Chief Minister he would have brought mortal remains of Guru. After stitching coalition with BJP, Mufti remained mum over the pre-poll claim.
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