In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh acts of state terrorism martyred five Kashmiris in Islamabad district, today.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the troops killed four youth, Dawood Ahmed Sofi, Majid Manzoor Dar, Muhammad Ashraf Itoo and Aadil Hussain Mir, and destroyed a residential house during a cordon and search operation in Srigufwara area of the district. The owner of the house, Muhammad Yousuf Rathar, was also killed while his wife, Hafeeza Begum, was critically injured in the firing of the troops. Earlier, an Indian policeman was killed and two troops were injured in an attack in the same area. In the meantime, five Indian soldiers and four policemen were injured in a grenade attack in Tral.
Massive protests erupted in Srigufwara, Islamabad, Pulwama, Srinagar, Sopore, Hajin and other areas against the killings. Indian police and troops fired pellets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering intense clashes between the demonstrators and the forces’ personnel. Dozens of people sustained injuries during the clashes. The occupation authorities suspended internet services in Islamabad, Pulwama and Srinagar districts.
A spontaneous strike was observed in Islamabad and Pulwama districts against the killings. Complete strike continued in Tral area of Pulwama on the third consecutive day, today, to mourn the killing of three youth who were martyred by the troops on Tuesday.
The Chairman of Hurriyat Forum, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing the 55th Founding Day ceremony of his party, Awami Action Committee, at Rajouri Kadal in Srinagar appealed to the international community to take cognizance of the Indian brutalities on the people of the occupied territory and take steps towards settlement of the lingering Kashmir dispute. Hurriyat leader, Javaid Ahmed Mir, addressing a gathering Mazar-e-Shuhada Eidgah in Srinagar also paid homage to the martyred youth. Hurriyat leaders Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Yasmeen Raja and Muhammad Ahsan Untoo visited Pampore and paid glowing tributes to three youth on their first martyrdom anniversary. Ummat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir took out rallies in various areas of South Kashmir to remember noted religious scholar Dr Qazi Nisar Ahmed on his martyrdom anniversary.
On the other hand, after the failure of its army and paramilitary forces to suppress the Kashmiris’ ongoing freedom movement, India has now sent commandos of the elite National Security Guard, a special forces unit under the Home Ministry, for the purpose. As per media reports, the NSG commandos, whose presence in occupied Kashmir was cleared last month by the Indian Home Ministry, will soon be deployed during cordon and search operations in the Valley.
In Brussels, speakers at a Kashmir seminar held at the European Parliament said, Kashmir is a very dangerous conflict between two atomic powers and it should be resolved for the peace and stability of the South Asian region. The seminar was organised by Friends of Kashmir in the European Parliament in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Self-Determination Movement International and the speakers included Anthea McIntyre MEP, Richard Corbett MEP, and Raja Najabat Hussain. It was also attended many MEPs and Pakistan High Commissioner in Belgium Ms Naghmana A Hashmi.
