Shutdown in J-K to mark death anniversary of separatist leader

Shops and business establishments remained closed and people stayed indoors here on Wednesday over a demand for the remains of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, a separatist leader hanged and buried in New Delhi's Tihar Jail in 1984.

Bhat, who was the founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was executed on February 11, 1984, on the charges of killing an intelligence officer.

"On 11th of February, our leader Maqbool Bhat was hanged to death. Separatist leaders have called for the shutdown to mark the death anniversary. Shops and markets are closed. Traffic is off the roads," said Sahil Maqbool, a local resident.

The police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled the streets here to prevent protests on the anniversary of Bhat's execution.