Restrictions, shutdown mark Guru's 4th anniversary
Situation remained under control: DGP
Srinagar, Feb 09 (KNS): Authorities Thursday imposed curfew like restrictions in most parts of Srinagar even as the Valley observed complete shutdown on the fourth anniversary of 2201 parliament attack convict, 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 fourth hanging anniversary was given by joint resistance leadership including Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik.
All shops, businesses establishments, petrol pumps and private offices remained closed in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir.
Public transport also remained affected but private vehicles were seen plying on most of the roads. The strike also affected work in government offices, banks and post offices.
Witnesses said that authorities sealed off most parts of Srinagar including Maisuma, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar.
Police and paramilitary were deployed on the roads to prevent protests. Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were fanned out in the old city areas of Srinagar who had blocked all the roads with barricades and concertina wire to curtail pedestrian and vehicular movement in these areas.
Police and CRPF men were seen patrolling the deserted streets in old Srinagar.
Armoured vehicles were also seen at some road junctions to thwart any possible protests one the fourth hanging anniversary of Afzal Guru. Heavy deployment of police and CRPF was also made in areas falling under Maisuma police station.
In the uptown Srinagar, men in uniform were deployed at many subtle places. However, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere till the report was filed.
It is worth to mention here that several pro-freedom leaders were either placed under house detention or were lodged at different Police Stations to foil their proposed protests on the anniversary of Guru.
Meanwhile witnesses said that clashes erupted between youth and forces in Sopore town of north Kashmir's Baramulla district after youth staged a protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru.
Witnesses told KNS that as soon as the Zuhar (afternoon) prayers ended in the local Masjid, the aggrieved youth took to streets in Main chowk, Main Bazar and Batapora areas of the town and staged protests.
Amid pro-freedom sloganeering, the protesting youth were demanding the mortal remains of Afzal Guru.
Witnesses said that forces resorted to teargas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering clashes in the area.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid told KNS that the situation across the Valley remained under control. “Barring a few minor stone pelting incidents, the situation across the valet remained under control,” he added. (KNS)
