- Indian troops, police deployed in strength to prevent anti-India demonstrations
SRINAGAR: In Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), complete shutdown was observed on the second consecutive day on Friday against the attempts by New Delhi to repeal through its judiciary the Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution which guarantees special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu Kashmir and bars non-Kashmiris from buying property in the disputed territory.
Call for the shutdown has been given by the Hurriyat Conference leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Ali Shah Geelani and Muhammad Yasin Malik with the active support of the High Court Bar Association, transporters and trade bodies. It is aimed at registering protests against the Indian conspiracies to change the demographic composition of the disputed state by abrogating the Article 35-A to pave way for the settlement of Indian citizens in the Kashmiri state.
All shops, business establishments and educational institutions are closed in Srinagar and other areas while public transport is off the road. The IHK authorities continue to impose restrictions on the movement of people in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and KralKhud police stations in Srinagar and in other areas.
The authorities have also deployed Indian troops and police personnel in strength across the disputed territory to prevent people from staging anti-India demonstrations. Rail service between Baramulla and Banihal towns remains suspended for the second consecutive day.
The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a bunch of petitions challenging the Article 35-A. A 14-member team of the Kashmir High Court Bar Association led by Bar President Mian Abdul Qayoom will seek dismissal of the petitions challenging the Article 35-A in the Indian Supreme Court.