Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Feb 11: A complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir to mark the death anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Maqbool Bhat.
All shops and business establishments were closed in Srinagar city and other major towns of the valley while public transport was off the roads.
To thwart possible protests, authorities had imposed restrictions in the areas falling under five police stations of Old Srinagar city, viz: Khanyar, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar while restrictions remained in vogue in Maisuma area of uptown as well.
Restrictions were also imposed the movement of people in and around the native place of slain leader Trehgam.
“In Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and Shopian towns also adequate deployment was made to maintain law and order,” sources said.
Maqbool Bhat, a resident of frontier district Kupwara, was hanged and buried by the government of India on February 11, 1984, in Tihar jail in New Delhi. The call for the shutdown was given by all pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in riot gear and armed with assault rifles were deployed across Valley.
Train services between Baramulla and Banihal town were also cancelled.
All shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained closed in parts of Kupwara and other parts of the north region of Kashmir, while public transport was off the roads. However, private vehicles and two-wheelers were also less on the roads in whole north across north.
Authorities also imposed curfew-like restrictions in parts of North Kashmir to foil anti-India protests.
Heavy deployments of police and paramilitary CRPF was made across North Kashmir, The cops had placed barricades and concertina wires on the road to restrict movement of people at multiple places in view of 34th hanging of JKLF founder Maqbool Maqbool Bhat.
Meanwhile, in Bhat’s native village Trehgam in Kupwara district, people took to roads to protest against his hanging and demand his mortal remains.
The activists of separatist parties also participated in the protest and asked Government of India to hand over mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru to their family members for proper burial.
Guru was also hanged and buried in Tihar jail on February 9, 2013.
