Curfew, restrictions to thwart demos in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 16 : In Jammu and  Kashmir, the Indian authorities continued to clamp curfew and impose stringent restrictions in Srinagar and other towns to prevent people from holding anti-India and pro-liberation demonstrations, today.

Despite restrictions people took to the streets in Srinagar, Pampore, Kakapora, Khrewa, Handwara, Kralgund, Wattergam, Budgam, Sopore, Kupwara, Islamabad and other areas. They raised slogans like ‘We want freedom’ and ‘Go India go’.

The forum patronised by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Hilal Ahmad War had called for a march towards Batamaloo in Srinagar to pay homage to the youth recently martyred by the troops.

The authorities continued to confine the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to his residence while Hurriyet leaders including Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi and Yasmeen Raja were placed under house arrest. The APHC Chairman was not allowed to offer Juma prayers for the third consecutive week.

Official sources told mediamen that Indian police had arrested around 700 youth during the past four weeks for participating in anti-India demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley.

Addressing a meeting of religious scholars in Srinagar, the grand mufti of occupied Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin, stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute, without any further delay.

An Indian army Major and two other troopers were injured at Beri Rakh in Mendhar area of Poonch district in the clash with Mujahideen, which entered the fourth day, today. Earlier, an Army Major was killed and seven other personnel including a Colonel were injured in the clash on Tuesday. So far, two Mujahideen have also been martyred in the gun battle, which continued till last reports came in.

Kashmiri students in the United Kingdom held a peaceful protest demonstration outside BBC's office in Manchester to express solidarity with the people in occupied Kashmir and call for the international attention to the happenings there. (Writer-South Asia)