*SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, the Indian authorities have furthertightened the strict clampdown ahead of India’s Independence Day, tomorrow(15th August), adding more to the woes of the oppressed people of theterritory.*
Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported that the occupied valley has been inlockdown since the Narendra Modi government’s decision to scrap the specialstatus of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating the Article 370 of the IndianConstitution earlier this month.
The communication blackout continues on the 10th successive day, today, asthe authorities keep the internet and telephone links snapped and imposestrict restrictions on media.
The Indian government had snapped television, telephone and internet linksto prevent demonstrations against its decision of revoking Article 370 on5th August.
As per KMS the Indian authorities have converted the valley, particularlySrinagar, into a military garrison and a big concentration camp bydeploying Indian troops and police personnel in every nook and corner.
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With Internet services and telephone lines snapped, the occupied territoryremains cut off from the external world. The local newspaper even failed toupdate their online editions since the night of 4th August. Majority ofnewspapers could also not be printed during all these days due to curfewand other restrictions.
Meanwhile, almost all Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani andMirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been put under house arrest or in jails. Over 900political leaders and workers including even pro-India politicians likeFarooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Engineer Abdur Rasheed andSajjad Lone, have been detained.
Due to the severe blockade, a famine-like situation is emerging as peopleare facing a severe shortage of essential commodities including baby foodand life-saving medicines, KMS reported.