Hanging anniversary of Maqbool Bhat affects normal life in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Thursday due to a shutdown to mark the 37th death anniversary of banned Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front co-founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on this day in 1984.

Majority of the shops and business establishments remained shut while public transport also remained largely off the roads. Some fuel stations were also seen closed. However, private vehicles, auto-rickshaws and cabs were seen plying normally in parts of Kashmir including Srinagar city.

Shutdown was also observed in other parts of Kashmir Valley including the native district of Maqbool Bhat.

An official said that the impact of shutdown was not felt as it used to be but yet the Joint Forces were deployed in sensitive areas to maintain peace and order.

In Nawab Bazar area of Srinagar city, the forces fired a couple of tear-smoke shells after some youth pelted stones on CRPF personnel.

The shutdown was spontaneous as no organization had called for shutdown.

Bhat, a resident of Trehgam Kupwara was hanged on February 11 in 1984 in Tihar Jail of New Delhi. He is buried inside the jail premises.