Normal life disrupted as curfew enters 86th day in IoK

SRINAGAR (92 News) – Normal life disrupted as curfew and communication blockade entered in 86th day, today, in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK). According to the KMS, Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu region continues to remain badly affected due to military clampdown and blanket internet ban on the 86th consecutive day. Ban also continues on prepaid mobile phones. However, voice calls on postpaid connections are partially allowed and landline phones are also working to some extent. As part of a silent protest against Indian occupation and August 5 illegal actions, shops and other business establishments continue to remain fully closed, today, as against routine two-hour break, in view of the EU parliament members’ visit, students stay away from educational institutions and offices are witnessing low attendance. Though private vehicles are plying, yet public transport is off the roads as the kashmiris are far away from normal life in IoK. A non-local truck driver was killed by unknown assailants on Monday evening in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara area. The deceased is the fourth truck driver to be killed during the ongoing month in the territory. Questioning Indian govt’s move to allow an EU delegation to visit IoK, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said MPs from Europe are welcomed to go on a guided tour to the territory while Indian MPs are banned and denied entry. He added there is something very wrong with that. Another Cong leader Jairam Ramesh said that the move was an insult to India’s Parliament and democracy. In an embarrassment to the government, the ruling BJP’s MP Subramanian Swamy also slammed the decision to allow the EU delegation to visit Kashmir. He described the move as a perversion of the country’s policy and demanded its cancellation. Pertinently, nearly 30 EU MPs, drawn mainly from extreme right-wing parties, are going to visit IOK. Reports say that while the Indian government backs the visit, the EU parliament and its hierarchy has not been involved, raising some diplomatic doubts. The reports added that several EU embassies in New Delhi were unaware of the visit.