Kashmir Valley is observing a shutdown to remember Muhammad Afzal Guroo on his fifth hanging anniversary. Guroo was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013 after his ‘conviction’ in Indian Parliament attack. Though there were insufficient evidences against him which could prove his role in the attack, but the Supreme Court ordered “he to be hanged for the collective conscience of society’. All shops and business establishments are shut and transports is off the roads. Restrictions have been imposed in Northern Kashmir particularly in his native Sopore town. Restrictions are also in place in old Srinagar city. Contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in full riot gear have been deployed in the restriction imposed areas. Reports said that all roads leading to Guroo’s native Dogah Seer Jagir Village are sealed. Despite restrictions, a large number of people according to reports are visiting his family to express sympathies. Train services between north Kashmir’s Baramulla town and Bannihal town in the Jammu region have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
The call for shutdown has been forwarded by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Malik has been lodged in Srinagar Central Jail while Geelani and Mirwaiz are under house arrest.