Separatist shutdown paralyses life in Kashmir Valley

A separatist-called shutdown con Saturday in the Kashmir Valley to mark the sixth death anniversary of Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru, has paralysed life across the region.

Afzal Guru was executed in Delhi's Tihar Jail on this day in 2013.

While calling for the shutdown, the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has reiterated their demand for handing over Afzal Guru's mortal remains to the family.

After the execution, Afzal Guru's body was buried within the precincts of the jail. He is survived by his wife, Tabassum and 18-year old son, Ghalib, who live in Tarzoo village near north Kashmir's Sopore town.

Authorities placed Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house arrest on Friday at his residence on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Markets, public transportations and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar and other major cities and towns of the valley.

Authorities made heavy deployments of police and paramilitary forces at law and order sensitive places in Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla, but n o restrictions were imposed on public movement anywhere in the valley.

--IANS

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