SRINAGAR – Police in India occupied Kashmir said an explosion rockedLaliana village ahead of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to thecaged valley.
Reports suggest that a blast was reported in open agricultural land, nearly12 km away from the venue for Modi’s rally in the Muslim-majority state.
Officials are currently looking into the suspected blast while securityarrangements have been beefed up at the venue in Palli village in Sambafrom where the Indian premier will address the Panchayats.
Modi, who played cagey games appeasing hard-liner Hindu followers, will laythe foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth over INR20,000 crore.
BJP leader’s visit to the occupied Kashmir is a major trip since theabrogation of Article 370 and the special status of Kashmir in August 2019.Meanwhile, Kashmiris are observing black day on Modi’s visit in wake ofcontinued bloodshed and violence in the region.
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A complete shutdown overshadowed the visit of the Indian PM as a call forthe strike was given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference to convey astrong message to the Indian ruling party that the Kashmiris reject India’sillegal occupation of their homeland and they will continue their struggletill they achieve their inalienable right to self-determination.
A surge in violence has been reported in the militarised region in recenttimes, including a spate of crackdowns by security forces, that has lefthundreds of Kashmir dead in the region.
Nearly 600 innocent civilians mostly youth were killed so far by the Indianoccupation forces since Modi led the administration’s illegal andunilateral actions of Aug 5, 2019.
