Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed across the territory, today, against the killing of eight civilians and injuries to over hundred in firing by Indian forces’ personnel on protesters in Badgam and Ganderbal districts, yesterday.
Call for the two-day strike and protests was given by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. All markets, education institutions and other businesses remained closed and traffic was off the road. In view of the strike, the Kashmir University had postponed all the examinations, which were to be held today and tomorrow.
Thousands of people, today, participated in the funeral prayers of martyred youth in different areas of Badgam and Gandarbal districts. The bodies of martyred youth were taken to the graveyards in big processions amid high-pitched anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Pakistani flags were also hoisted on the occasion. Seven youth were killed in Badgam and one in Ganderbal districts when Indian forces opened fire on people protesting against Indian election drama, yesterday.
Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred four more youth during a violent military operation in Keran area of Kupwara district, today.
The joint resistance leadership in a joint statement said that the poll boycott in central Kashmir should serve as an eye-opener for India. The leadership asked the people in south Kashmir to follow the precedent set by the people of central Kashmir and stay away from the farcical elections being staged in Islamabad constituency on Wednesday.
Senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah and Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi in their statements said that the poll boycott was a befitting reply to India and its stooges in the territory and a message to the world that people of Kashmir did not want to be a part of India. They condemned the suspension of Internet service in the entire valley.
Kashmir Bar Association and Hurriyet leaders including Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash, Farida Behanji, Zafar Akbar Butt, Muhammad Iqbal Mir and Muslim League in their separate statements condemned the civilian killings and appealed to the international community to take notice of the worst human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian forces in the territory.