A shutdown was observed across the Kashmir valley today to mark the death anniversary of militant leader Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail in 1984.
The markets remained closed in all districts of the region and public transport remained off the roads.
Bhat, a resident of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, had co-founded the first militant group in the region. He was hanged on February 11, 1984, in Tihar Jail. His body was buried inside the jail premises.
Several key separatist leaders in the region had appealed for the shutdown to mark Bhat’s death anniversary as they pressed for the demand of returning his “mortal remains.”
A senior police officer in Srinagar said restrictions were imposed in several neighbourhoods of the old city and civilian movement was restricted.
An attempt by the members of several separatist groups to march towards the local office of the United Nations here was foiled by the police and several separatists were detained. The separatists had planned to submit a memorandum at the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan to demand the return of mortal remains of Bhat and Guru.
Kashmir Valley shuts on Maqbool Bhat’s death anniversary
