- UN Secy General Guterres calls for investigation into Indian bloodletting in Kashmir
- Death toll rises to 19 as protest in valley enters third day on Tuesday
NEW YORK: United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres on Tuesday stated that killing of civilians in Occupied Kashmir by Indian troops needs to be investigated, reported Kashmir Media Service.
While answering a question during the daily press brief, the UN chief’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “Civilians have to be protected wherever they are, whether it is in Gaza, whether it is in Jammu and Kashmir, whether it is in Yemen; it is a basic principle,” adding, any loss of civilians needs to be investigated wherever they occur.
The spokesperson further said the secretary-general is very concerned about the situation we see in Jammu and Kashmir.
“He reminds that member states are responsible under the international humanitarian law to protect civilians,” he said, adding, “The Secretary-General reiterates his call on member states to find ways to address disputes in a peaceful manner,” Dujarric said.
Meanwhile, the toll of those martyred in the recent violence by Indian forces in Kashmir rose to 19 as two youngsters injured in the firing of Indian troops in occupied Kashmir on Sunday succumbed to their wounds on Tuesday.
A complete shutdown is being observed for the third consecutive day on Tuesday to mourn the killing of the people by the Indian forces. The call for the shutdown has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, all of whom remain under house arrest or in custody to stop them from visiting the families of the martyrs and expressing solidarity with them.
The authorities continue to impose restrictions across occupied Kashmir by deploying Indian troops and police personnel in strength to prevent people from staging demonstrations against the killings.
A shutdown is also being observed in Doda, Kishtwar and Banihal areas of the Jammu region against the killings in the Kashmir Valley.
The occupation authorities have suspended train services between Baramulla and Bannihal besides ordering the closure of schools and colleges in the Kashmir Valley to stop students from registering their protest against the bloodbath carried out by Indian troops.
The Kashmir University has also postponed all exams scheduled for Tuesday.
On Sunday, at least 17 people were martyred in addition to 50 injured by Indian troops during cordon and search operations in Kashmir’s Islamabad and Shopian districts, according to Kashmir Media Service.
An initial statement issued by the Director General of Police SP Vaid said, “13 suspected militants were killed during a gunfire exchange with Indian forces in two separate incidents. Seven were killed in Dragad and four in Shopian district’s Kachdoora area.”
Two civilians, Jan Mohammad Lone and Zubair Ahmad Butt, died in a hospital due to their injuries. A young man, identified as Rouf Bashir Khanday, was also killed by Indian forces during an overnight operation in Islamabad district’s Dialgam area.
Other young martyrs include Ubair Shafi Malla, Adil Thokar, Yawar Itoo, Nazim Nazir, Adil Thokar, Rais Thokar, Ishafaq Malik and Zubair Turay. Moreover, around 100 civilians were injured when Indian forces used brute force and fired pellets and bullets on protesters in Dragad and Kachdora areas.
On Monday, the civil and military leadership of Pakistan condemned Indian brutalities in Occupied Kashmir valley and announced to observe April 6 as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, a day after Indian security forces killed at least 20 Kashmiris, alleging them of militancy, prompting a complete shutdown in the restive valley for two days.
In Islamabad, a special meeting of the federal cabinet reviewed the current situation arising from the recent killings in IOK. The meeting was chaired by PM Abbasi.
Losers can keep crying…
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