Shutdown on Maqbool Bhat’s hanging anniversary hits normal life across Kashmir

Srinagar: Authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar parts on Monday while rest of the Valley observed a complete shutdown on the 35th hanging anniversary of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat even as rallies and arrests of separatist leaders were also witnessed. Bhat was hanged and buried in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on this day in the year 1984.
The shutdown call was given by the 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.
In response to the shutdown call, all the shops, businesses establishments 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.
However, authorities had imposed restrictions to thwart any possible protest Monday. Witnesses said authorities had sealed roads in Srinagar Monday including at business Hub Lal Chowk, Maisuma and others.
Police and paramilitary were deployed on the roads to prevent protests. They 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.
Meanwhile, scores of people this afternoon carried out a protest rally from the native place of Maqbool Bhat towards main market Trehgam.
Reports said that, scores of people including relatives, locals and people from different parts of the District took out a protest march in Trehgam this afternoon. Men, women, children were part of the protest march, raising pro-freèdom and pro-Maqbool Bhat slogans.
The march started from the vicinity of Maqbool Bhat, holding placards, which read as, “Father of Nation Maqbool Bhat”. The protesters marched while raising pro-freedom slogans towards main market Trehgam.
It’s pertinent to mention here that, the protest march is held on every hanging anniversary of Maqbool Bhat from his native village to main market Trehgam. Meanwhile, reports said that minor clashes erupted between youth and forces at few places.