Aug 16 , 2015
News
Kashmiris mark India's Independence Day as Black Day
* Complete shutter-down strike throughout IHK amid heavy deployment of Indian forces * Shops, businesses, schools and courts remain closedSRINAGAR/MUZAFFARABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC and across the world capitals observed Indian independence day as black day on Saturday to protest brutalities in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).
The black day was observed on the call of Kashmiri leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmed Shah. Kashmiri women led by APHC leader Aasia Indrabi not only hoisted Pakistani flags on the independence day of Pakistan but they also declared ideology of Pakistan as survival of Pakistan. Pakistani flag was hoisted in Srinagar despite imposition of curfew by Indian forces. A complete shutdown was observed to mark India’s independence day as black day.
According to Kashmir Media Service, call for the shutdown had been given by veteran Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Geelani, APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmed Shah. The shutdown was aimed at conveying the message to India that it had no legal and moral justification to celebrate its independence day until it gave the Kashmiri people their inalienable right to self-determination.
All shops, business establishments, education institutions and courts remained closed while transport was off the road. The occupation authorities had imposed curfew in Srinagar and stringent restrictions in other towns by deploying heavy contingents of Indian police and troops to prevent people from holding anti-India demonstrations. Tight security measures had been taken around Bakhshi Stadium, the main venue of the official function. The police had laid concertina wires and erected barricades on roads running parallel to the Stadium. CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance purpose.
The authorities continued to put Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Abbas Ansari, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Yasmeen Raja, Naeem Ahmad Khan, Hakeem Abdur Rasheed, Zafar Akbar Butt, Hilal Ahmed War, Masroor Abbas and Ayaz Akbar under house arrest and illegal detention to prevent them from leading the demonstrations.
On the appeal of APHC, the black day was also observed in Islamabad and AJK. Anti-India rallies were taken out throughout AJK to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. Scores of people took to the streets of Muzaffarabad in an anti-India rally. Shops remained closed and the traffic was off the roads. People preferred to stay indoors due to the shutdown and restrictions in some of the areas in Kashmir valley.
Tight security measures were taken after a women separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day in the IHK by hoisting the Pakistani flag on Friday. Wearing black armbands, the protesters in Muzaffarabad held huge banner that read “August 15, India’s Independence Day, Black Day for Jammu and Kashmir”. “We want freedom,” they shouted. The angry protesters set an Indian flag on fire. The protesters also handed a memorandum to the United Nations office.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk