Srinagar, Feb 09 (KNS): Authorities on Saturday imposed restrictions in Srinagar area while as a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley on the sixth anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru.
Guru, who was hanged in a New Delhi jail on February 9, 2013, was buried in New Delhi's Tihar jail after his conviction in parliament attack.
The shutdown call on his sixth anniversary was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. They also announced a protest programme on the anniversaries of Muhammad Afzal Guru and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat on Feb 09 and 11 respectively.
In response to the shutdown call, all the shops, businesses establishments, petrol pumps and other private offices remained closed across the Valley while as public transport also remained affected throughout the day. The roads today wore a deserted look while only a few private vehicles were spotted plying.
Authorities had imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas including the commercial hub Lal Chowk where a large posse of paramilitary and police was deployed who had erected temporary barricades, thus halting the vehicular movement.
Similar reports of shutdown were also received from central, south and north Kashmir where all shops and other business establishments remained closed throughout the day.
Pertinently, ahead of Guru’s anniversary, authorities had placed Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention at his Nigeen residence while Geelani also continued to remain under house detention at his office-cum-residence at Hyderpora.
Nonetheless, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik also remained under police custody who was detained while leading a protest against ‘plight’ of inmates on Wednesday from JKLF’s Abi Guzar office.
Meanwhile, train services remained suspended for the third day on Saturday in Kashmir in view of strike call today.
The train service remained suspended from Thursday due to heavy snowfall.
Officials said that the train service was suspended today as ‘a precautionary measure’. (KNS)