Various parts of Kashmir observed a shutdown to mark the fourth death anniversary of the prime suspect of the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on Thursday. High security was imposed on conflicted parts old Srinagar. Main city markets remained closed while public transport vehicles went off the road.
Over 14 people, including five militants, were killed in the terror attack due to which the Supreme Court had said: “…the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.”
Guru was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9, 2013 without any trail, and his remains were not handed over to his family. However, for many Kashmiris, he remains the victim of an unjust system which caused an upsetting situation in the valley today. Although no violence was reported in areas brought under the crack down, the authority leaves no lose ends to initiate any unrest. The authorities decided to leave nothing to chance, and suspended train services between Banihal and Baramulla.
The separatist leader, convicted of murdering a CID officer, was hanged in Tihar jail on February 11, 1984. Bhat’s remains were not returned to his family either.
