Complete shutdown as Indian troops martyr eight youths in IOK

SRINAGAR (KMS) – A complete shutdown is being observed in Occupied Kashmir against the ongoing killings by Indian troops in the territory on Friday. The Joint Resistance Leadership, in a statement issued in Srinagar, had called for a complete shutdown on Friday. The JRL deplored that even in the holy month of Ramadan there was no let-up in the bloodshed. The Martyrdom Week will commence on Saturday to mark the martyrdom anniversaries of prominent Hurriyat leaders, Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone as well as victims of Hawal massacre. On Thursday, Indian troops in their fresh acts of state terrorism martyred eight Kashmiri youths in Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla districts. The troops martyred three youths, Naseer Pandit, Umar Mir and Khalid Ahmed, and destroyed a residential house during a cordon and search operation in Dalipora area of Pulwama district. Another youth identified as Rayees Ahmed Dar was martyred and his brother, Younis Ahmed Dar, was injured in the firing of the troops. They are believed to be the sons of the house owner. Three more youths were martyred by the troops during a cordon and search operation in Handew area of Shopian district. A 23-year-old youth, Arshad Ahmed Dar, who was injured in Indian forces’ violent action on May 13 at Chanabal in Pattan area of Baramulla district, succumbed to his injuries at Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, today. Earlier, one Indian soldier was killed and two others were critically injured in Dalipora area of Pulwama district. The latest killings triggered massive clashes between protesters and Indian forces’ personnel in the Pulwama area. The authorities imposed curfew and suspended internet services in the district. Meanwhile, a gang of Hindu extremists shot to death a Muslim youth and injured two others when they along with their cattle were heading towards their native Mohalla Qilla area of Bhaderwah in Jammu region. The killing of the youth identified as Naeem Ahmad Shah sparked violent protests in the town. Indian police used brute force and fired teargas shells on the protesters, triggering clashes. The authorities imposed curfew and suspended internet service in the town. All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani and senior APHC leader, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, in their statements issued in Srinagar strongly condemned the Indian government’s ban on IOK students to take admission in educational institutions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.