Sameer Yasir
“Unlike Maqbool Bhat there was no case on Afzal Guru in Kashmir. That is why we did not sign his death papers,” Chief Minster Omar Abdullah said in a hurriedly called press conference at his residence this morning.
“I got a call from Home Minister at 8 pm yesterday that Afzal Guru would be hanged in morning after completion of all legal process, the execution was planned for this morning.” He said.
He said that his government has been making it clear the ramification of Guru’s execution.
Abdullah flew to Srinagar early Saturday morning to take control of the situation.
The family of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru has been informed about his hanging by the Tihar authorities through Speed Post and the J&K government was taken into confidence before his execution, the Central government said.
“They (Tihar jail authorities) intimated the family through Speed Post, registered post and the DG (Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police) has been told to check with the family whether they got it or not,” Union Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
According to PTI Afzal when walked to the gallows remained “peaceful and calm during the final moments. He looked very composed,” a top Tihar Jail official told PTI.
Senior separatist leader and chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani has called for a 3-day shutdown to protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru at Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
Geelani said hanging of the Guru is “unjust and murder of democracy.”
“I appeal to Kashmiri people to observe a complete shutdown on 9, 10 and 11th of February against the hanging of Guroo,” said Geelani over phone from New Delhi. “Our stand on the Afzal has been that he was not given a fair trial and his hanging once again proves that Kashmir’s can never expect justice from the government of India,” he said.
Geelani also condemned the curfew which has been imposed across valley following the hanging of Guroo.
Police sources said that they were deployed on the roads as early as 2 am.
Reports are coming from North Kashmir Baramulla town that clashes are going on between police and protesters in different places. Many people have been injured.
Hundreds of people were marching towards Guru’s house in Doabgaw when police stopped them, resulting in clashes. Clashes have been reported from old town of Baramulla and Sopore town.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah, in the press conference , appealed to people of the state to maintain peace and calm.
“We have imposed curfew after our assement of the situation. Restrictions have imposed but the army has not called. The situation is being handled by Jammu and Kashmir Police as well as the paramilitary forces,” Abdullah said.
The chief minister said that he has issued orders to paramilitary forces and police to deal with the situation with ‘utmost restrain’.
Abdullah also urged the media to verify facts before reporting about Guru’s hanging
