SRINAGAR: The Hurriyat Conference faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has asked people to continue their protests till New Delhi returned Afzal Guru’s body for “proper Islamic burial” in the valley.
Geelani has been placed under house arrest in Delhi and has not been allowed to return since Guru was hanged at the Tihar jail on Feb 9.
However, a spokesperson for the alliance asked people to observe a ‘civil curfew’ on Wednesday and Thursday besides a complete shutdown after Friday prayers.
“Every nook and corner of the valley shall witness such protests. The next protest programme will be announced on Friday evening,” the spokesperson said.
“The protests will continue until the mortal remains of the martyr are returned.”
Life in the valley was on a standstill until yesterday, the ninth day after Guru was hanged. Three youth died during clashes between protesters and the police and paramilitaries.
The curfew imposed by the authorities remained till Friday evening. However, Geelani had asked people to observe a shutdown until Sunday to press for demands that the body be returned.
In the fresh protest programme, people have been asked to hold “peaceful and organised” protest demonstrations after dusk in their respective localities on Tuesday.
He has asked them to carry out processions bearing torches on Wednesday evening and to organise Quran-recital sessions for Guru on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has also called for a shutdown on Friday to protest against Guru’s execution which it said was “judicial muder”.
