Kashmir remembers Afzal Guru

 

Undeclared curfew, shutdown cripple life

Mobile Internet services snapped, restored; crackdown on separatists

Srinagar, Feb 9: Authorities Sunday imposed curfew like restrictions across Kashmir to foil the possible protests on the occasion of first death anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9 last year.

Curfew like restrictions were imposed on the first day of shutdown call given by all the three factions of Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and other separatist organizations to observe death anniversaries of Muhammad  Afzal Guru and JKLF founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat who were hanged and buried in Tihar jail in 2013 and 1984 respectively.

Most separatist leaders were taken into ‘preventive’ custody except Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani who was placed under house arrest immediately after he arrived here from Delhi on Saturday.

Strict restrictions were imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of police stations Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Zadibal, Soura and Maisuma. The roads in these areas were sealed by stationing armored vehicles and laying spools of concertina wires while contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength in these areas and restricted people to their homes. In uptown areas, a complete shutdown was observed with all the shops, businesses and offices remaining closed. However, scarce movement of private vehicles was witnessed in uptown areas.

Reports of stone pelting were received from several areas of the Valley.  A police official said a policeman was injured in a stone pelting incident in Kangan area in Ganderbal district. A group of youth appeared in Kangan chowk and started pelting stone on the forces deployed in the market, he said and added Sadam Hussain, a policeman was hit by a stone. He was taken to the sub district hospital Kangan.

A minor stone pelting incident was also reported from town hall Ganderbal. Reports reaching Precious Kashmir said that Sopore, Baramulla , Bandipora, Pulwama and other areas witnessed a few stone pelting incidents. “There was huge deployment of forces on the roads since morning. We were not even allowed to buy daily commodities,” a resident of Anantnag told Precious Kashmir over phone.

Police Version

A police spokesman in a statement here said that the situation remained normal throughout the valley. “However, some minor stone pelting incidents have been reported from Naidkhai Sumbal, Papchan, main Chowk Bandipora, Margund Kangan and Hadipora Sopore.  There are no reports of any injury to anybody so far (till evening),” he said.

AIP stages protest

Police on Sunday arrested Awami  Ittihaad Party (AIP) President Engineer Rashid near Municipal Park Jawahar Nagar while leading a protest march towards Lal Chowk.

The AIP activists raising slogans appeared at Jawahar Nagar this morning and tried to march towards the city centre. However, police intercepted them and arrested Er Rasheed and his supporters. Protesters were demanding return of mortal remains of Afzal.

“AIP promises to raise voice against all atrocities committed on Kashmiris. Cowardly acts of the state will not force us to succumb,” Rashid said.

Condemning the force used to foil the march a Party an AIP spokesperson said that four workers were hospitalized after they received injuries due to use of ‘disproportionate’ force by CRPF personnel. “If Afzal was a terrorist and justice had been done with him then let New Delhi explain why whole of the Kashmir today is under complete siege,” he asked.

Internet snapped

Meanwhile, internet services on mobile and other plug-in devices remained suspended from the midnight which were later released on Sunday evening.

Strike in Pulwama

Life in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town remained paralyzed on Sunday  amid restrictions imposed by the government and shutdown called by the separatists.

Hundreds of police and paramilitary men were deployed in the town to thwart any protest. However, day passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the town.