News Analysis |
Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world are observing Indian Republic Day, today, as a Black Day in protest against India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. There have been both internal and global protests against the Indian government by minorities.
The day is being marked with a complete shutdown in occupied Kashmir and anti-India rallies and demonstrations in world capitals. Call for observance of the Black Day and shutdown has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Over the weekend, at least 500 Dalit campaigners marched through London against the barbaric treatment of their caste in India by extremist Hindutva groups and support to these groups by the Indian government.
The resistance leaders have also called for peaceful demonstrations and rallies across the occupied territory after Friday prayers, today, over the killing spree unleashed by Indian troops across the occupied territory. They have also appealed to imams and khateebs of mosques to highlight in their Friday sermons the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India.
Meanwhile, the Indian occupation has put all of occupied Kashmir, especially Srinagar and Jammu, under siege. Thousands of Indian troops and police personnel have been deployed in every nook and corner of the occupied territory, causing huge inconvenience to the people. The forces’ personnel are conducting frisking and checking of vehicles and passengers in Srinagar and other major towns besides carrying out surprise raids in different areas.
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The authorities have also put Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Mukhtar Ahmed Waza and Hilal Ahmed War under house arrest or in custody to prevent them from the anti-India demonstrations. A day ahead of Republic Day, authorities on Thursday snapped the mobile internet services in Kashmir.
The participants raised slogans against human rights violations and around 60-70 vehicles also joined the rally, many of them with images depicting Indian brutalities in Occupied territory.
The Internet services on mobile phones and data cards were suspended this evening as part of the security drill of Republic Day. Although, it’s a normal practice in Kashmir to suspend Internet services on Republic Day and Independence Day, this is the first time that these services were withdrawn a day earlier.
Security forces have been deployed in strength at strategic locations in the city. The law enforcing agencies are carrying out random frisking and searches of vehicles entering the city. This year the main Republic Day function will be held at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium instead of the regular venue — Bakshi Stadium.
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The area around the cricket stadium was sealed yesterday for full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade. Traffic police has issued an advisory for movement of vehicles between the city centre and south Kashmir and no vehicle will be permitted to move along the Ram Munshi Bagh- TRC stretch of the road during the rehearsal and Republic Day function.
About 130-150 people belonging to the Pakistani diaspora, Indian minorities, including Sikhs and Dalits, human rights activists/defenders, and freelance journalists participated.
Meanwhile, global protests have been held by many minority groups such as Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits against the continuing oppression by the Indian State. A “Free Kashmir” campaign has been launched in London by Kashmir Campaign Global ahead of India’s Republic Day which is observed on January 26th.
According to reports, a section of London transport network has been used to present posters and signboards calling out India for its continued violations of human rights in Indian occupied Kashmir and it’s repeated denial of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
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At least seven vans were seen driving around the British Parliament carrying signboards titled “Free Kashmir”. Banners in favour of an independent homeland for Sikhs carried slogans “Khalistan Zindabad!” and “Raj Karega Khalsa”, sponsored by the Council of Khalistan, were also seen in London.
The vans carrying pictures of Kashmiri children and women called on Indian occupation forces to leave Kashmir and let the Kashmiris decide their fate. The campaign against Indian brutalities has been supported by a group called “British Friends of Kashmir.”
Security forces have been deployed in strength at strategic locations in the city. The law enforcing agencies are carrying out random frisking and searches of vehicles entering the city.
Similarly, on Thursday, the EU-Pak friendship federation Europe organised a protest motor rally in Brussels to make the international community aware of the human rights violation carried out by Indian authorities in Occupied Kashmir and other regions under forceful Indian rule such as Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim and Manipur.
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The rally started from popular Brussels monument Atomium and finished at the Prominent Expo centre of the city. About 130-150 people belonging to the Pakistani diaspora, Indian minorities, including Sikhs and Dalits, human rights activists/defenders, and freelance journalists participated. Participants were displaying posters and banners calling for Free Assam, Free Tripura, Free Khalistan, Free IoK, as well as campaigning to stop atrocities against minorities.
The participants raised slogans against human rights violations and around 60-70 vehicles also joined the rally, many of them with images depicting Indian brutalities in Occupied territory. Over the weekend, at least 500 Dalit campaigners marched through London against the barbaric treatment of their caste in India by extremist Hindutva groups and support to these groups by the Indian government.