Shutdown in Shopian, Pulwama against killing of three youths

SRINAGAR (KMS) – In Occupied Kashmir, a complete shutdown is being observed in Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir to mourn the killing of three youths by Indian troops. The troops martyred Lateef Ahmed Dar, Tariq Ahmed Sheikh and Shariq Ahmed Nengroo during a violent cordon and search operation at Adkhara in Imam Sahib area of Shopian district on Friday. All shops and business establishments remained closed in the two districts while public transport is off the road. People from Shopian, Pulwama and neighboring areas are visiting the houses of the martyred youth to offer condolences to the families. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have deployed Indian troops and police personnel in strength in different areas of the two districts to prevent people from holding demonstrations against the killing of the youth. The authorities also continue to suspend train services for the second consecutive day, today, on Srinagar-Banihal track.

IOK HCBA condemns use of force on protesters in Shopian

In Occupied Kashmir, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has strongly condemned the use of brute force by Indian troops and police against civilians in Shopian. Over 20 people were injured, some of them critically, when Indian police and troops fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells on peaceful demonstrators who were protesting against the killing of three youths. The HCBA said that people who were protesting against the killing of three Kashmiri youths were fired at and many had to be rushed to different hospitals for specialized treatment. It termed the act of the Indian forces as a gross human rights violation and demanded that the continued bloodshed of the innocent people by the Indian force should be stopped forthwith. The Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, it added. The HCBA reiterated its stance that holding of farcical elections in the territory was a futile exercise as the sham polls could not be a substitute to the right to self-determination of the people. It said India should respect the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and give them their birthright as is promised by its rulers and guaranteed by the resolutions of the UN Security Council several decades ago.

‘Situation not conducive for journalists in IOK’

In Occupied Kashmir, speakers during a seminar said that the situation is not conducive for journalists as they are facing challenges while discharging their professional duties. The Jammu and Kashmir Editors Forum (JKEF) organized the seminar ‘Bol Ka Lab Azad Hai Teray’ in Srinagar in connection with the World Press Freedom Day. The speakers said that there are challenges and journalists should have in-depth knowledge about the issues. “Although there are challenges but journalists in Kashmir have remained unbiased while covering the conflict. It is good to see that new breed of journalists is working on different platforms,” they said. The speakers paid rich tributes to the journalists who were killed in the line of duty including the founding editor of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari. They said that Shujaat Bukhari’s contribution for healthy journalism would always be remembered. They said the authorities have failed to ensure any welfare scheme for the journalists. Despite assurances nothing has been done on the ground, they added. The speakers included Muhammad Sayeed Malik, Shuja-ul-Haq, Salim Pandit, Majid Hyderi, Umar Farooq Khan Amiri, Farooq Ahmed Wani, Advocate Asrar Ali and Chasfeeda Shah, Rashid Rahil and Muhammad Aslam. Meanwhile, journalists in Kashmir organised a host of events to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The major issues highlighted were the ongoing clampdown on media including ban on advertisements to three leading Kashmir dailies and the working conditions of journalists. The Kashmir Working Journalist Association (KWJA) in a statement in Srinagar demanded release of illegally detained Kashmiri journalist, Aasif Sultan. Aasif has been detained at Srinagar Central Jail for the last nine months. On the other hand, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) and their affiliates launched the 17th edition of the South Asia Press Freedom Report – Truth vs Misinformation: The Collective Push Back. The report was launched in the Maldives by UNESCO’s New Delhi-chapter. This report shows that in spite of war mongering, the damaging impacts of fake news and hate speech, and the politics of control, South Asia’s media workers made it very clear that they have a decisive role to play in fighting the scourge of misinformation and supporting democracy and human rights. And most importantly they have a leading role in truth-telling.