In occupied Kashmir, dozens of people including a woman were injured when Indian troops fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells on participants of the funerals of two martyred youth, Zeenatul Islam and Shakeel Ahmad Dar, in Shopian district, today.
At least 12 people, who were injured with bullets and pellets, some of them in the eyes and heads, were brought to different hospitals of the territory for treatment. Three critically injured were shifted to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment.
The brute action by the Indian forces led to complete shutdown in south Kashmir. All the shops and business establishments were closed while train service between Banihal and Srinagar was suspended.
Meanwhile, thousands of people defying curfew and other restrictions thronged Sugan and Chilli areas of Shopian district to participate in the funeral prayers of Zeenatul Islam and Shakeel Ahmad Dar. Multiple rounds of funeral were held for the martyrs to accommodate the huge rush of the mourners. The youth were martyred by the troops during a cordon and search operation in Yaripora area of Kulgam district, yesterday. The youth were buried amid high-pitched pro-freedom, pro-Islam and anti-India slogans. Soon after the funeral prayers, a group of mujahideen appeared and offered a gun salute to the martyred youth.
The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, and other Hurriyat leaders and organizations including Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Bilal Ahmad Siddiqui, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zafar Akbar Butt, Yasmeen Raja, Farida Behanji, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party and Peoples Freedom League in their separate statements paid glowing tributes to martyrs, Zeenat-ul-Islam and Shakeel Ahmad Dar. Syed Ali Gilani said that the youth were sacrificing their precious lives to end the forcible occupation of their motherland by India.
Senior APHC leader and the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, in a statement issued in Srinagar condemned the frequent cordon and search operations by Indian forces in south Kashmir. He said the search operations are the collective punishment being inflicted on the people in the winter months.
Indian forces launched a massive cordon and search operation in Ambarpora Tarzoo area of Baramulla district, today.
