Kashmir Valley remains under curfew for the third consecutive day with mobile Internet services suspended and newspapers circulations terminated to bring under control Muslims staging protests against hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru.
The curfew was tightened on Monday by Delhi fearing an increase in protests on the 29th death anniversary of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat. Bhat was sentenced to death for murder of a police officer and like Guru was also hanged inside Tihar Jail on 11 February 1984.
The protests against hanging of Guru flared up on Sunday forcing authorities to tighten the curfew. Only ambulances and staff of essential services department have been issued curfew passes to facilitate their movement. Two people have died and at least 50 others, including 23 policemen, injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies across the Valley since Saturday. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF have been deployed in all vulnerable areas of the Valley to avert any law and order anomalies.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has reaffirmed solidarity with the People of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed serious concerns on the high handed measures taken by India in the wake of Afzal Guru’s execution.
Spokesman of the Foreign Office Moazzam Ahmed Khan on Monday said that “India is suppressing the aspirations of Kashmiris by arrests and detention of Hurriyat leaders‚ curfew‚ news blackout and other coercive means. He however declined to comment on the Hanging of of Afal Guru. The spokesman called for the lifting of repressive measures and immediate release of Hurriyat leaders.
Moreover‚ Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Chairman Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said “India is using all tactics to suppress the freedom struggle of Kashmiris”. In a statement issued on Monday‚ he said that India has converted Kashmir into an army garrison”. He said India is now using courts to suppress Kashmiris’ passion for freedom.
