Complete strike was observed in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), as Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world marked India’s Republic Day as Black Day on Thursday.
The day was observed to convey to the international community that India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination belied its claim of being a democratic republic. The strike call was given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Gilani Chairman Syed Ali Shah Gilani, JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik and the high court bar association.
Markets remained closed and roads wore a deserted look except for gun-totting Indian troops and police, who had been deployed at every nook and corner of streets of all major cities and towns, to ensure that people do not hold protests.
Authorities had sounded a high alert across the IHK and Indian troops and police were deployed around the Bakhshi Stadium, the main venue of the official function and other vital installations across the valley. Mobile phones and Internet networks remained jammed, as part of attempts to forestall anti-Indian demonstrations in the territory.
A demonstration was organised by the APHC AJK chapter in Islamabad, which was attended by the AJK PM, ministers and politicians. A memorandum was presented to the UN Office, reminding the world body of its resolutions for resolving the Kashmir dispute. In Brussels, a big demonstration was held outside the Indian Embassy in connection with the Black Day. Kashmir Centre Chairman Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo led the demonstration. Addressing the participants, Tramboo urged the world community to ask India to grant Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination for deciding their future by themselves.
Indian troops in their stepped-up act of state terrorism martyred one more youth near Mala Bala in Akhnoor area of Jammu.
Separately, the IHK government organised Indian Republic Day functions amid tight security vigil, police said. The two major functions were held in twin capitals of the region—Srinagar and Jammu, where heavy police contingents, paramilitary troopers, young cadets and school children marched past the Indian flag and staged performances to mark the celebrations. Reports said that official functions were also held at district headquarters. In Srinagar, the summer capital of the region, minister Abdul Rahim Rather unfurled the Indian flag and took the salute in a highly secured Bakhshi stadium, while as in Jammu, the winter capital, the region’s Governor NN Vohra hoisted the Indian tri-color and took the salute of the march past in Maulana Azad Memorial stadium.