SRINAGAR: In Occupied Kashmir, people held massive demonstrations in Srinagar and other major towns today, to protest against assault on Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution.
The article grants special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and bars non-Kashmiris from permanently settling in the territory.
A petition seeking repeal of Article 35-A is listed for hearing in Indian Supreme Court on Monday.
The repeal of this constitutional provision is aimed at converting Muslim majority of Jammu and Kashmir into minority by paving way for non-Muslim Indian citizens to settle in the territory.
Soon after the culmination of Juma prayers, today, people took to the streets in Srinagar, Badgam, Kangan, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Bandipora, Hajin, Kulgam, Kupwara, Sopore and Baramulla and staged forceful demonstrations against Indian conspiracy.
Members of Sikh and Pandit communities also participated in the protests.
The protesters led by Hurriyet leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and others raised high-pitched pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.
Addressing the protesters, Hurriyet leaders said people of Kashmir were ready to defend the Article 35-A with their blood.
Indian police subjected the protesters to brute force at different places. People also staged protests in Mandi area of Poonch district in Jammu region against the onslaught on Article 35-A.
Hurriyet leaders, Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, Imtiaz Ahmed Reshi, Ghulam Nabi War and Ghulam Nabi Waseem in a joint statement said people of Jammu and Kashmir would resist any attempt to abrogate the Article 35-A tooth and nail.
Members of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Coordination Committee, Mir Javaid Advocate, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam and Jagmohan Singh Raina, have submitted an application in Indian Supreme Court seeking dismissal of the petition filed for abrogation of Article 35-A.
In the meantime, more than 300 Lawyers of Jammu unanimously passed a resolution at a meeting in Jammu for strengthening and retention of Article 35-A.
Meanwhile, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred two more youth during a cordon and search operation in Drusoo area of Sopore, today.
Complete shutdown was observed in different areas of Kupwara and Baramulla districts against the killings.
Despite restrictions, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of a martyred youth, Bilal Ahmed, at his ancestral Shatmuqam village in Lolab area of Kupwara district, today.
The occupation authorities booked Tehreek-e-Hurriyet leader, Umar Aadil Dar, under black law, Public Safety Act, and lodged him at Kathua Jail in Jammu.
AFP