In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown is being observed across the territory, today, against the civilian killings by the Indian army and paramilitary forces.
Call for the strike has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. All shops and other business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road in all major cities and towns including Srinagar. The forces have been deployed in strength to prevent anti-India protests.
In view of the strike, the authorities have suspended train services across Kashmir. “We have again suspended train service in the Kashmir valley following a fresh directive from police,” a senior railway official said.
The JRL has also called for a march towards Mazar-e-Shuhada Naqshband Sahib (RA) in Srinagar on July 13 to commemorate the martyrs of July 13, 1931. The leadership in a joint statement said it along with people and resistance activists will march towards Mazar-e-Shuhada after Friday prayers on July 13 to offer Fateha for all martyrs. Paying tributes to the martyrs, the JRL blamed Indian authorities and forces for merciless killings, saying New Delhi’s approach was haughty.
The leadership said the commitment and resolve of people towards the ongoing movement has frustrated authorities who are resorting to underhand and mysterious tactics to force the people and resistance camp into submission.
The JRL appealed to people to foil any attempt aimed at creating disunity among various sections and religious sects of the society, saying, “Since the human rights violation report was made public by UNHRC, the Indian brutal authorities feel unnerved and they intend to tarnish the bond of unity among various sections of society in J&K.”
The leadership blamed the Indian authorities and their agencies for targeting various sections particularly the Sikh community. Paying rich tributes to Ubaid Manzoor Lone, Tamseel Ahmad, Andleeb Ali, Shakir Ahmad Khandey, Irshad Ahmad and martyrs of Shopian, the JRL expressed deep concern over these heart-wrenching incidents.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Kashmir Traders Manufactures Federation in their statements supported the today’s strike.
