ISLAMABAD: Indian troops martyred three more youth in Kulgam district of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on Monday, triggering massive protests in the area.
The youths were killed during a cordon and search operation launched by the Indian army, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group of police in Turigam area of the district.
The killings triggered anti-India protests in Turigam and adjoining areas of the district. Hundreds of youth assembled in Turigam and shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Earlier, a deputy superintendent of police was killed and an army major was injured in an attack in the same area. On the other hand, a complete shutdown marked by curfew-like restrictions was observed across the territory against India’s brutal measures including mass arrest, killings and attempts to repeal Articles 35A and 370 of the Indian constitution.
Call for the strike was given by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed while traffic was off the roads in all big and small cities of the valley and in Banihal area of Jammu region.
Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to prevent protests against the mass detentions. Mobile internet service was reduced in many parts of the territory.
Indian police arrested All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Samjhi and dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) activists during continued mass crackdown operations on leaders of pro-freedom and religious organisations.
MASSIVE CRACKDOWN ON RESISTANCE LEADERS CONDEMNED:
Syed Ali Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders and organisations condemned the massive crackdown on resistance camp terming the present situation as serious and explosive.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Geelani in a statement issued in Srinagar, said, “Our just struggle has been crushed leading to sorrow and painful tales of death and destruction all around. But by the grace of Almighty, every sincere and dedicated soul has come out stronger by these mean and coercive actions.”
Commenting on the statement of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that “our fight is not against Kashmiris”, the APHC chairman said just after the Pulwama attack, horror and hatred against Kashmiris reached its crescendo with the free hand remarks.
He said that such blunt lie can only come from the experts in deceit, who despite print, electronic and social media footage, despite valley numbered vehicles burned in front of their owners in Jammu, rulers are intoxicated by the morphine of pseudo-nationalism, very brazenly and bluntly publically dare to issue such statements.”
Meanwhile, the APHC in a statement in Srinagar strongly condemned the arrest of its General Secretary Haji Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, Mohammad Yaseen Aataie and Syed Imtiyaz Haider. It said that unending and continued arrest spree indicates frustration on the part of India and it has waged a war against the entire population, but such repressive measures can in no way legalise and legitimise their forced occupation.
The spokesperson for Mirwaiz led Hurriyat forum, in a statement, said that the Indian forces have been given a free hand to instil fear and create suffocating atmosphere across the valley leaving people in shock and despair.
He denounced the crackdown, mass arrests and continued nocturnal raids across Kashmir and slammed the arrest of resistance leaders, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Ameer of Jamat-e-Islami Abdu Hameed Fayaz and dozens of other Jamaat leaders. “By resorting to arbitrary and illegal arrests, intimidation and restrictions the authorities will not achieve anything as in the past, nor will it force the people of Kashmir into submission,” he added.