SRINAGAR – In occupied Kashmir, people staged forceful demonstrations incentral, north and south Kashmir today against the Indian occupation andrepeal of special status of the territory by Narendra Modi-led communalIndian government.
Soon after Juma congregational prayers, people took to streets in Srinagar,Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Islamabad, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian andother areas of the occupied territory.
They raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Indian troops and policepersonnel fired teargas shells and pellets on protesters at several places,injuring many of them.
The occupation authorities had imposed restrictions in Srinagar, Kupwara,Handwara, Ganderbal, Islamabad and Bijbehara areas to preventdemonstrations.
The authorities did not allow people to offer Juma prayers in many majormosques including Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, Dargah Hazratbal, Dastgir Sahib,Charar-e-Sharif and Jamia Masjid Kishtwar.
In a statement in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League said Indiangovernment’s move to repeal special status of Kashmir was actuallyconfession of its defeat in the territory. The party spokesman MolviRafique condemned the arrest of Hurriyat leaders and activists and shiftingthem to different jails of India. On the other hand, a spokesman of UNSecretary General, Antonio Guterres, at a press briefing in New York saidthe UN Chief plans to raise the Kashmir dispute during his discussions withvarious leaders attending the upcoming 74th session of the General Assembly.
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A US court has asked Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and othermembers of his government to respond within 21 days to the charge that theyhave illegally occupied the territory of Jammu and Kashmir and arecommitting gross human rights violations there.
The action has been taken on a complaint filed by the Kashmir KhalitsanReferendum Front in a US district court in Houston, Texas, where Modi isscheduled to address a joint rally with President Donald Trump on Sunday.
The Front has also nominated Indian Interior Minister, Amit Shah, andanother functionary, Kanwal Jeet Singh, as the accused responsible for thisillegal occupation and for committing gross human rights violations in theterritory.
Kashmiris, Khalistanis and their sympathizers will hold anti-India protestdemonstrations and rallies in Houston on Sunday against Narendra Modi’svisit.