Srinagar : Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world will observe Indian Republic Day, tomorrow, as Black Day in protest against India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Call for the observance of the Black Day has been given by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. The day will be marked with a complete strike in occupied Kashmir and anti-India demonstrations and rallies in world capitals.
The puppet authorities have put the entire occupied Kashmir especially Srinagar and Jammu under siege on the eve of India’s Republic Day. Thousands of Indian troops and police personnel have been deployed in every nook and corner of the occupied territory causing huge inconvenience to the people. The forces’ personnel are conducting frisking and checking of vehicles and passengers in Srinagar and other major towns besides carrying out surprise raids in different areas.
Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Mir Shahid Saleem, Hakeem Abdul Rasheed, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmed Tawheedi, Farida Bahenji and Feroz Ahmed Khan in their statements in Srinagar strongly denounced the authorities for harassing the people across the territory in the name of security. They said, in a bid to celebrate Indian Republic Day all the democratic rights of the people are suppressed every year.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in Handwara, today, to mark the martyrdom anniversary of victims of a deadly massacre in the town. Seventeen innocent Kashmiris were killed when BSF troops had opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful demonstrators in the town on this day in 1990. The authorities imposed restrictions in the town to prevent people from offering special prayers for the martyrs. However, despite restrictions and heavy snowfall, the activists of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement held a function at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Handwara to pay tributes to the victims of the carnage.
Kashmir Council European Union organized one-day camp in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in connection with its one-million signature campaign on Kashmir. The Kashmir Council is continuing the signature campaign to garner support of the European people for resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations. It is also aimed at apprising the Europeans of the Indian atrocities on the people of occupied Kashmir.
