Shutdown In Kashmir On Guru’s Sixth Death Anniversary

Srinagar: A complete shutdown is being observed in Kashmir valley on Saturday to mark the sixth hanging anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9, 2013.

The resistance leadership comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have called for a valley-wide shutdown to protest against the hanging of Guru and to demand the return of his mortal remains.

Shops and other business establishments are shut in Srinagar while public transport is off the roads.

Reports of the shutdown were also received from other district headquarters of the Valley.

Afzal, from North Kashmir’s Sopore, was hanged on Feb 9, 2013, at Tihar jail for his alleged role in 2001 parliament attack. He lays buried inside the jail and his family has been demanding his mortal remains.

In order to maintain law and order and foil possible anti-government protests, authorities have imposed strong restrictions in some parts of Sopore town the government forces have also sealed entry points towards Afzal Guru’s home village Jageer ghat, reports claimed.

Meanwhile, Authorities have suspended the Baramulla – Banihal train service for the day, as per the precautionary measures.