Kashmiris besieged for 146th consecutive day

SRINAGAR: There is no let up in the miseries of the residents of Indian-held Kashmir as they continue to remain besieged for 146th consecutive day on Saturday, the Kashmir Media Service reported.As restrictions under Section 144 remain enforced amid deployment of thousands of Indian troops, the people of the valley are cut off from their immediate surroundings and the entire world due to ban on internet, text messaging and prepaid mobile services.

The harshest cold weather has added to the miseries of the besieged people as they couldn’t stock essential commodities for the winter season. As per a centuries-old practice, usually the inhabitants of the valley used to store food stuff and firewood in abundance for the winter as the Srinagar-Jammu Highway remains mostly closed due to snowfall and rains in the months of December and January.

However, this time around, they could not do so due to military lockdown which has been in force since August 5. On the other hand, China has urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that escalate tensions, amid reports of incidents of exchange of fire by the armies on both sides along the Line of Control (LOC).