Complete shutdown, marked with forceful anti-India demonstrations was observed in Indian-held Kashmir on Friday to protest against Thursday’s attack on worshipers in the holy month of Ramadan, desecration of the holy Quran and brutal killing of eight peaceful protesters in Gool area of Ramban.
The authorities had imposed a curfew and other stringent restrictions in all major towns of IHK deploying Indian troops and police personnel in strength to prevent people from staging the protest demonstrations. Despite restrictions, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the martyred protesters in Gool and staged massive anti-India demonstrations. They raised anti-India and pro-liberation slogans.
Similar protests rocked Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Surenkote, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Thannamandi, Thathri, Sangaldan, Banihal and other areas of the Jammu region.
Clashes between the protesters and Indian police were witnessed at many places. The Indian police arrested Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front District President Bashir Ahmed Boya in Ganderbal during a demonstration.
The puppet authorities had placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, Zafar Akbar Butt, Masroor Abbas and other Hurriyet leaders under house arrest while Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmed Shah were lodged in various police stations of Srinagar.
The authorities also continued to suspend mobile and internet services for the second consecutive day on Friday to stop people from getting information about the latest situation in the occupied territory.
Due to the curfew, Friday prayers could not be held in Jamia Masjid Srinagar and other major mosques of the occupied territory.
Meanwhile, Indian troops in another incident martyred a youth at Gurez in Bandipore.
In Islamabad, speakers at a seminar organised by the APHC-AJK chapter and chaired by the convener, Syed Yousuf Naseem, said July 19 was a historic day when in 1947 the people of Jammu and Kashmir decided that the territory be acceded to Pakistan.
