SHUTDOWN ON MAQBOOL BHAT'S DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Shaheed Maqbool Bhat

Srinagar Feb 11 (Only Kashmir): Life across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley was affected today by a shutdown called by separatists to mark the death anniversary of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Shaheed Maqbool Bhat.

Markets and other business establishments remained closed and public transport did not ply in the city and other major towns of the Valley even as heavy deployments of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force were made to ensure law and order.

In order to prevent protests and marches by separatists in the city centre areas Saturday, preventive restrictions were imposed by the authorities in Lal Chowk area of the city disallowing any pedestrian or vehicular movement.

Attendance in banks, post offices and government offices was also affected because of the non-availability of public transport in the city.

Skeletal private transport, however, moved in the city.

JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat was hanged this day in 1984 in Tihar Jail. The JKLF has since been demanding that it be handed over the mortal remains of the party founder who was buried inside the Tihar Jail.(OK)