Complete shutdown in IHK against Indian attempt to repeal Article 35A

SRINAGAR (KMS) – In Occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred three youths in Kulgam district. The youths were killed during a cordon and search operation launched by Indian army, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group of police in Turigam area of the district. The killings triggered massive anti-India protests in Turigam and adjoining areas of the district. Hundreds of youths assembled in Turigam and shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. In the meantime, a Deputy Superintendent of Police was killed and an army Major was injured in an attack in the same area. Meanwhile, 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 Gilani, 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. Meanwhile, Indian police arrested APHC General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Samjhi and dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami activists during continued mass crackdown operations on leaders of pro-freedom and religious organizations. Jamiat Ahle Hadees vice-president Maulana Mushtaq Ahmad Veeri, Maulana Muhammad Maqbool Akhrani, Bashir Ahmad Rather and activists of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League were among dozens arrested during police raids in Kulgam, Islamabad and Shopian districts. Over 200 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami including party chief, Dr Abdul Hameed Fayaz, were detained by Indian police, yesterday. Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Spokesman Bashir Aziz, addressing a press conference, expressed concern over the well being of party Chairman, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, who is lodged at Delhi’s Tihar jail. Earlier, Dr Balqees Shah, the wife of Shabbir Ahmad, in a statement citing an Indian social activist had said that her husband was attacked by Hindu hooligans in the jail.