Shutdown in Occupied Kashmir against India's ill-treatment to Yasin Malik

SRINAGAR (KMS) – A complete shutdown is being observed across Occupied Kashmir against the ill-treatment meted out to the ailing and incarcerated Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad Yasin Malik by India’s infamous National Investigation Agency in New Delhi. Call for the protest strike was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership. The strike is also being observed against the India’s ongoing aggression against Kashmiri resistance leaders, activists, senior businessmen, trade union leaders and relatives of resistance leaders by NIA and Enforcement Directorate. All shops are closed while traffic is off the roads in all major cities and towns of the Valley. Meanwhile, as the announcements were made on loud speakers of the mosques about deteriorating health condition of Muhammad Yasin Malik, people in Maisuma area took to the streets and staged anti-India protests. Shopkeepers kept their shutters downed as a mark of the protest. On the other hand, voting began, amidst a complete shutdown, Tuesday on a dull note in Islamabad district for India’s Lok Sabha constituency. Residents in most parts of the district in South Kashmir have stayed indoors so far, an official said adding that polling would be held in three phases. Voting in Kulgam district will be held on April 29 while Pulwama and Shopian districts will go to polls on May 6. The Joint Resistance Leadership has called for a boycott of the polling and asked people to observe a complete shutdown.

APHC delegation visits Yaseen Malik’s residence in Srinagar

In Occupied Kashmir, a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference visited the residence of ailing incarcerated Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik, at Maisuma in Srinagar. The delegation comprised APHC leaders Bilal Ahmed Sidiqui, Muhammad Saleem, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Bashir Ahmed Irfani and Syed Muhammad Shafi. Hailing the commitment and determination of Muhammad Yasin Malik for the Kashmir cause, the delegation said that frustrated with the uncompromising resolve of the resistance leadership and masses towards the freedom struggle, India has resorted to old colonial tricks of intimidation and coercion. “But time and again New Delhi has failed in its designs and history bears testimony to this fact that such oppressive majors have never proved deterrent to the will of people or leadership,” the leaders said. “These methods are once again doomed to fail as Kashmir issue is and will remain a fostering wound till it is resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said according to a statement issued after the visit. The delegation visited on the instructions of APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani.