In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference has said that Indian forces had used brute force to muzzle voice of Kashmiris for their inalienable right to self-determination in the past and are repeating the same today to suppress the ongoing Intifada in Kashmir.
The APHC, while commenting on the situation in Kashmir, in a statement said, “Killing of Danish Sultan, injuring about 300 people and arresting more than 2000, speak volumes of the foolproof arrangements made for the visit of Indian parliamentary delegation as if they are from a different planet where the cries and sorrows of Kashmiris do not reach.”
The APHC reiterated its resolve that India would have to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination and leave this place sooner or later, because no force on earth could hold a population hostage just for their ego, Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported.
Referring to demolition of Makkah Market at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the APHC said, “So-called PDP MLA along with police forced representatives of this market to open a few shops to give the impression of normalcy and when the shopkeepers refused to budge, the said politician with the help of police muscle and vandalism, razed the whole market.”
Condemning the police action against the journalists and photographers in Batamaloo area, the Hurriyet said that police vandalism was crossing all limits with each passing day and administration was patting them for these anti-people and undemocratic actions.
Commenting on the arrest of Shah Wali Mohammad of Seelu, the APHC statement said, “Arresting 80-year-old physically fragile and an ailing senior citizen of Sopore is the face of democracy being practiced in Jammu and Kashmir for the last 70 years.”
The APHC said, “Our resolve and will can in no way be dented by such immoral and undemocratic acts.” It also condemned the arrest of Taha Indrabi, the brother of DeM chief Aasia Indrabi. The Hurriyet also asked people especially living in and around airport road to make the joint programme a success.
VIOLENT PROTESTS GREET MEHBOOBA MUFTI IN KULGAM:
Meanwhile, the puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti’s visit to Kond Valley of Kulgam district triggered violent protests in the area forcing her to curtail the visit in a hurried manner. Some people also threw stones at the retreating cavalcade, Kashmir Media Service reported.
Mehbooba visited the family of one Mashooq Ahmad in Kraloo village of Kond valley who was killed in firing by Indian troops on July 9 during a protest demonstration against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Kond valley constitutes around 10 to 12 villages, including Kraloo. Announcements were made by police in the village in the morning, asking people to stay indoors.
“They announced that ‘don’t venture out or you will be shot dead’. Every house was surrounded by more than 15 forces’ personnel. Mehbooba came in a chopper which landed a couple of kilometres from Kraloo village and was driven straight to Mashooq’s house. She was accompanied by her uncle and PDP General Secretary, Sartaj Madani and a local block president of her party, Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh.
As soon as the news of Mehbooba’s arrival spread in the area, people ignoring the police warning took to public address systems in local mosques and urged locals to come out and march towards Kraloo to protest against her visit.
Hundreds of people assembled and as people tried to enter Kraloo village they were stopped by teargas shelling and baton charge by police. Many, including an elderly man, were arrested by police.
Seeing the mood of protesters, Mehbooba was advised by officials to cut short her visit. “As Mehbooba was making her way back to the helicopter, some people hurled stones at her cavalcade,” media reports said.
After Mehbooba’s departure the protests intensified in the area and hundreds of people surrounded the house of PDP block President Gulzar Shiekh in Waripora-Batpora village. His house was torched later in the evening with petrol bombs.