SRINAGAR – In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown, marked by curfew andother restrictions, is being observed across the territory to commemoratethe second martyrdom anniversary of popular youth leader, Burhan MuzaffarWani, today (Sunday), reported Kashmir Media Service.
Call for the today’s strike and a march towards Tral town has been given bythe Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz UmarFarooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik to reaffirm the Kashmiris’ resolve to takethe ongoing freedom movement to it its logical conclusion, through thickand thin.
The authorities have deployed thousands of Indian soldiers and policepersonnel who are patrolling deserted streets across the territoryincluding Srinagar to enforce strict curfew and other restrictions. Specialrestriction have been imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdictionpolice stations including Maisuma, KralKhud, Khanyar, Nowahatta, SafaKadal,MaharajGunj and Rainawari in the city.
All roads leading to Tral, the hometown of Burhan Wani, has been completelysealed with concertina wires to prevent the march.
Reports from local media said that only men in uniform are seen on theroads, fields, orchards and streets and it looks as civilian populationexists nowhere because of strict curfew imposed by the authorities. Localstold media that curfew was imposed since yesterday, and it was announced onpublic address systems.
Train and internet services have been suspended in view of the shutdown.Burhan Wani was killed along with his two associates by the Indian troopsin a fake encounter in Kokernag area of Islamabad district on this day in2016.
The authorities have also put several Hurriyat leaders including Syed AliGilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Muhammad Yasin Malik,Zafar Akbar Butt, Bilal Siddiqi and Muhammad Yousuf Naqash under housedetention or in custody to stop them from leading the march.
Meanwhile, the JRL while slamming the forces for the killing of threecivilians including a teenage girl in Redwani Kulgam, yesterday, alsoannounced to observe Black Day, today. Gilani, Mirwaiz and Malik urgedpeople to offer funeral prayers in absentia for those killed in Kulgam,yesterday.
The JRL in a statement said, “Firing live bullets on civilians in order tokill them reflects the policy of Indian government to crush all dissentwith use of absolute force and might. It becomes clear that a green signalhas been given to Indian armed forces to wipe off all Kashmiris without anydistinction of being armed or unarmed.”