SRINAGAR: Following India’s decision to end special status of OccupiedKashmir by abrogating Article 370 and 35A and after being confined to theirhomes for days, the people of the occupied Kashmir broke curfew and offeredFriday prayers.
Indian occupied Kashmir remained cut off from the outside world due to thecommunication blockade imposed by India while curfew and other restrictionscontinued on the 5th consecutive day on Friday.
The Indian government had imposed curfew and other restrictions in occupiedKashmir ahead of announcement on Monday to repeal Article 370 of the IndianConstitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The occupation authorities have deployed thousands of Indian troops,paramilitary and police personnel in every nook and corner of the occupiedterritory to prevent demonstrations against the illegal move of the Indiangovernment.
Several people were injured, today, when Indian troops used brute forceagainst protesters in Sopore town. Juma prayers could not be held atSrinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid and several other mosques due torestrictions.
The occupied territory remains cut off from rest of the world due to thecommunication blackout imposed by the Indian government by snappingtelevision, telephone and internet links. Local newspaper could not hit thestands for the past five days while their online editions also could not beupdated since the night of 4th August. The people of the territory aresuffering immensely due to the shortage of essential commodities, baby foodand life saving drugs.
Almost all Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani and Mirwaiz UmarFarooq, have been put under house arrest or in jails. Seventy of thearrested Hurriyat leaders and activists have been shifted from Srinagar toa jail in Agra city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Mian AbdulQayoom, President of the High Court Bar Association, and Mubin Shah, anoffice-bearer of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce are among those shiftedoutside the Kashmir valley. Over 560 political leaders and workersincluding even pro-India politicians like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah,Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad Lone, have been detained.
On the other hand, clashes erupted in Kargil between occupation forces andKashmiris against revoking Valley’s special status.
The citizens demanded the puppet authorities to restore Kashmir’s specialstatus.
Meanwhile, students and professionals hailing from IOK staged ademonstration at Jantar Mantar Road in Delhi, today, to protest against thescrapping of Article 370. Covering their mouths with black ribbons, theydemanded end of communication blockade and lifting of restrictions in theterritory.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement chairman, Mir Shahid Saleem, in astatement issued in Jammu thanked the government and people of Pakistan forstanding in solidarity with the oppressed people of Kashmir at a time whenIndia had robbed them of their status, identity and culture.