Kashmiris observe India’s Independence Day as black day

HELD SRINAGAR: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and the world over observed the Indian Independence Day on Tuesday as a black day to convey the message to the international community that India continues to deny them their inalienable right to self-determination.

The day was marked by a complete shutdown in the Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK), call for which had been given by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. All government offices, business establishments, including banks, were closed while roads wore a deserted look in the occupied valley.

The authorities imposed a curfew and other restrictions in Srinagar while Indian troops and police personnel were deployed in strength in all the major cities and towns of the occupied territory to prevent the people from holding anti-India protests. The roads were blocked with concertina wires. Special security measures were taken around the Bakhshi Stadium, the main venue of the official function in Srinagar. were used to monitor the movement of people while mobile phone and Internet services were suspended.

Police foiled an attempt by independent member of the so-called Kashmir Assembly Engineer Abdur Rasheed to hoist black flag at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. Police cane-charged dozens of his supporters who had gathered at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar with black flags in their hands. Engineer Rasheed was detained and placed at Raj Bagh police station.

People took to the streets in Pampore area of Pulwama district against desecration of a mosque by pro-India elements. The protesters said that when they went to offer Fajr prayers in the mosque they found Indian flags painted on the walls. They shouted Go India Go Back slogans.

The wife of APHC General Secretary Shabbir Ahmad Shah through a letter informed the Indian authorities about the life threats being received by her husband inside the Delhi’s infamous Tihal Jail. She also raised the issue of denial of medicines to Shabbir Ahmad Shah facing multiple ailments.

Jammu and Kashmir People's League in a statement deplored that party Chairman Mukhtar Ahmad was not being released from Islamabad police station despite suffering from severe kidney pain.

The APHC-AJK chapter held a protest demonstration outside Indian High Commission in Islamabad against the spree of killings and brutalities unleashed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir. Anti-India rallies were also held in Rawalpindi, Muzaffarabad and other areas of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, during his address while leading the rally, said the India was trying to remove special status of Jammu and Kashmir in its constitution which he said was against international laws and UN resolutions. He also condemned Indian aggression and atrocities being committed against innocent people of held Kashmir.

The rally started from central Press Club and ended at the office of United Nations Military observers in Domel. The participant of the rally handed over a memorandum to UN observer to Secretary General of the organisation in Muzaffarabad 

Meanwhile Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday admitted that bullets or abuses will not resolve the Kashmir issue. Addressing the nation on the 71st Independence Day from the historic Red Fort, he asserted that his government is committed to restoring the lost glory of Kashmir and its status as ‘heaven on earth.’ “Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se [Kashmir problem cannot be resolved by either bullets or by abuses. It can be resolved by embracing all Kashmiris],” Modi said in his fourth Independence Day speech.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat-M chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed Modi’s statement, stressing the need of ‘humanity’ and ‘justice’ in the disputed region. “Welcome @narendramodi also believes "Goli & gaali will not help resolve Kashmir" if insaniyat & insaaf replace them resolution can become a reality,” tweeted Mirwaiz. 

Meanwhile, the Youth Forum For Kashmir (YFK) organised a Black Day event to mark August 15, the Indian independence as Black Day by releasing 5,000 black balloons to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir living under Indian occupation.Releasing black balloons had a message of "Free Kashmir" written on them. The event was attended by Kashmiri and Pakistani youth, youth political wings and civil society members gathered at F-9 Park, Islamabad.

Speakers on the occasion pledge to raise their voice for the people of Kashmir at every forum to overcome their sufferings at the hand of Indian occupation. Participants recorded their video messages and showed support for the brave, resilient people of Kashmir who fight every day for freedom.