Army siege sparks clashes in Bijbehara

Srinagar, June 19, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, intense clashes erupted during protests in Bijbehara area of Islamabad district, today, against the launch of a cordon and a search operation by Indian troops in the area. Soon after the troops laid the siege to the Arwani areas of Bijbehara, youth came out of their houses and pelted the Indian troops with stones. The troops fired pellets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters. The occupation authorities snapped internet services in the district.

Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was held in Tral area of Pulwama district against the thrashing of a Kashmiri Sikh driver by police in Delhi. Media reports said that Sikh and Muslim youth in large numbers assembled at main town near Bus Stand and staged a protest against the incident. The protesters also burnt tyres and pelted stones on the vehicles of the Indian forces.

Complete shutdown was observed in Islamabad and adjoining areas to commemorate the 25th martyrdom anniversary of noted Islamic scholar, Dr Qazi Nisar Ahmed, and against the recent killings by Indian troops in the district. Call for the shutdown was given by the Jammu and Kashmir Ummat-e-Islami. All shops, business establishments and schools were closed while traffic was off the road in Islamabad town. Qazi Nisar was shot dead by unknown gunmen on this day in 1994 in Bun Dialgan area of Islamabad district.

Police arrested five persons on fake charges from Zainapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. A police official in a media interview in Srinagar confirmed that five youth were arrested by the police during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

The wives of former mujahideen, who returned to occupied Kashmir from Azad Jammu and Kashmir under a rehabilitation scheme, staged a protest demonstration at Press Enclave in Srinagar, demanding permission for return to their native areas. Around 450 families had gone to occupied Kashmir under the policy announced by the then puppet regime led by Umar Abdullah in 2010. The protesting families appealed to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan, to take steps to facilitate their return.

The Chief Patron of APHC constituent, Pairwan-i-Wilayat, Maulana Sibte Shabbir Qummi addressing a meeting of party’s General Council in Srinagar urged India and Pakistan to adopt a positive and realistic approach by holding dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute and other bilateral issues.

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