One Youth Killed on Afzal Guru Anniversary

NEW DELHI: Tensions ran high through the Kashmir Valley as one youth were killed and at least two others injured when police opened fire on protesters in Baramulla’s Palahalan area in North Kashmir.

According to reports the protesters were demanding the mortal remains of the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his second death anniversary today. Guru was secretly hanged and buried inside the high security Tihar jail in Delhi.

The police opened fire on the protesters killing young Farooq Ahmad.

The police confirmed the incident in a statement saying: “Two persons sustained injuries in a firing incident in Palhallan. One injured Farooq Ahmad Bhat S/O Ghulam Ahmad Bhat R/O Bhagat Mohallah, Palhallan succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.”

The injured persons include Riyaz Ahamad Bhat of Palhalan. He has been admitted in hospital. Details of the third person injured in police firing are awaited.

“Police has taken cognizance into this highly regrettable and unfortunate incident,” the police officials said. “FIR has been registered and the incident is being investigated to ascertain the facts.”

Kashmir Valley today had observed a complete shutdown on the second death anniversary of Afzal Guru, and almost all senior Separatist leaders including Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan and JKLF chief Yasin Malik was taken under preventive custody by police.

Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari and Nowhatta police station areas in the old city and Maisuma police station areas.

Meanwhile Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted that the Parliament attack convict’s execution was “wrong” and badly handled.

“I think the hanging was both wrong & badly handled.” Tharoor tweeted adding “his family should have been given a last meeting & body returned.”

The comments follow the joint statement of five Congress lawmakers in Jammu and Kashmir in which they admitted that Afzal Guru’s hanging was a “mistake.” ain The secret execution of Guru is a major bone of contention in the Valley with tensions erupting again over the manner in which he was executed under the UPA government led by the Congress party at the time.