Srinagar: Normal life in Kashmir was affected Tuesday due to a strike called by banned separatist outfit to mark the 36th death anniversary of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged on this day in 1984 in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
Most of the shops and other business establishments across valley were shut on Tuesday.
Reports reached here to GMK said that, that public transport was sparse but private cars auto-rickshaws were plying in many areas of the valley. Muhammad Maqbool Bhat also spelt Maqbool Butt was a Kashmiri separatist and founder of the organisation National Liberation Front, who was hanged on 11 February 1984 in Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
A witness said heavy deployment of the police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel was made in LalChowk, to foil any possible bid to stage a protest there.
A strike has also been called by the banned Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and Hurriyat confrence on the 36th death anniversary of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat on 11th feb and also on February 9th, which was the 7th death anniversary of Afzal Guru.
The shutdown call evoked complete response in almost all southern districts including Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.
A similar response was also seen in northern districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora, and in central districts of Budgam and Ganderbal. The authorities had deployed heavy contingents of the police and paramilitary CRPF men on the streets and erected naka at entry points to Trehgam—the native village of Maqbool Bhat in Kupwara district—to foil any possible protests. “There are no restrictions but the deployment of forces was made to maintain law and order,” said a police official. People from the nearby villages thronged the residence of Maqbool Bhat and offered ‘fateha’ prayers there.
Authorities on early tuesday morning suspended mobile internet services in valley which was restored later in the evening.
“Mobile internet services was suspended in valley for precautionary measure to maintain law-and-order situation on the death anniversary of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat,” said an official.
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