Restrictions in Valley to curb protests
SRINAGAR: Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir on Sunday to thwart any possibilities of protests on the death anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Maqbool Bhat.
Bhat was hanged and buried inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984. To mark his 34th death anniversary, separatists called for a shutdown, which also affected normal life in the Valley.
Restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar and also in Trehgam area of Kupwara following the strike call, a police officer said.
The curbs were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the officer added.
A large contingent of police and CRPF has also been deployed as precautionary measures in Shopian after a young woman, Sabreena Jan aka Sumaira, succumbed on Saturday evening to injuries sustained during an encounter between security forces and militants on January 24 in the south Kashmir district.
She was battling for her life at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik asked people to observe a strike.
They also called upon people to march to the office of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at Srinagar’s Sonwar and present a memorandum to UN secretary general demanding the return of mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru.
Guru, was also hanged and buried in Tihar jail on February 9,2013 after being convicted of conspiracy to attack parliament in 2001.
“The struggle and martyrdom of great resistance leader Maqbool Bhat is a glorious chapter of history. His struggle and sacrifices will always guide us through the tough journey of freedom struggle. He strived for freedom of Kashmir and kissed gallows for the sacred cause,” separatist leaders said in a joint statement.
The shutdown call affected life in parts of the Valley where restrictions were not imposed. Shops were closed and traffic movement was thin.
A shutdown was also observed on Friday.