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Srinagar, January 27, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed in Kupwara, today, to remember the martyrs of a deadly massacre carried out by Indian troops in the town in 1994. Call for the shutdown was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik and supported by the trade bodies of the town. All shops and other business establishments in the town remained closed while transport was off the road.
The JRL in a statement said that mass killings carried out by Indian troops in Kupwara, Handwara and Gaw Kadal areas in the month of January in 1990s reminded the Kashmiris of the brutal Indian occupation and oppression in the territory. Indian troops had mercilessly killed 27 innocent Kashmiris on this day in 1994 to punish the people for observing shutdown on Indian Republic Day, the 26th January, in the town.
On the other hand, a sea of people assembled in Arihal area of Pulwama district and attended the funeral prayers of martyred youth, Saqib Shafi Dar. Indian troops martyred Saqib along with another youth in Khonmoh area of Srinagar, yesterday, which was observed by India as its Republic Day.
The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, in a statement in Srinagar paid glowing tributes to the martyred youth. He deplored that every religious or national occasion of India brings sufferings to the people of occupied Kashmir and their oppressor celebrates the occasions with the blood of innocent Kashmiris. Other Hurriyat leaders and organizations including Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Muhammad Ahsaan Untoo, Imtiaz Reshi, Ghulam Nabi War, Ghulam Nabi Waseem, Yasmeen Raja, the Hurriyat forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Islamai Tanzeem-e-Azadi in their statements said that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs would not be allowed to go waste.
A delegation of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat forum visited the families of recently martyred youth in Pulwama, Shopian, Naaznepora and Rajpora areas of South Kashmir. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also spoke to the bereaved families over phone and expressed solidarity with them.
Meanwhile, complete strike was observed in Tral town, today, to mark the fourth martyrdom anniversary of noted freedom activist, Abid Khan. The occupation authorities had to face embarrassment as the India’s flag fell off the post as it was hoisted at the main Republic Day function in Rajouri district, yesterday.
An Indian soldier committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at an army camp in Baramulla. This incident raised the number of such deaths amongst the Indian troops and police personnel to 420 in occupied Kashmir since January 2007.
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