Kashmiris observe Indian Republic Day as Black Day

Kashmiris observe Indian Republic Day as Black Day

Srinagar (Agencies): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world are observing Indian Republic Day the 26th January, as Black Day today.

Call for the observance of the Black Day was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising to remind the world that India's continued denial of right to self-determination to the Kashmiris is contrary to its claim of being a democratic republic.

The day is being marked by a complete strike in occupied Kashmir where all shops and business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road.

The occupation authorities deployed Indian troops and police personnel in strength in Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir to prevent people from staging anti-India demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the authorities have also placed Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Hilal Ahmed War, Javaid Ahmed Mir, Zafar Akbar Butt, Abdul Ahad Parra, Abdur Rasheed Lone, Mushtaq Ajmal and Molvi Bashir Irfani under house arrest or in police custody to stop them from leading the demonstrations.

All roads leading to the Bakhshi Stadium, the main venue of official function in Srinagar, have been barricaded.

The authorities have also suspended mobile internet services across occupied Kashmir.

In his message on this occasion, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Masood Khan said Indian atrocities and state terrorism will not curb Kashmiris determination for freedom.

“Indian forces have tried heinous tactics against innocent people of Kashmir but they remain steadfast on their stance of achieving complete liberation from India,” the AJK president said.

"on this day Kashmiris will make it clear to the world that India is a big impediment in the way of the peoples right to self-determination", Sardar Masood Khan added.

Moreover, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred two Kashmiri youth during a cordon and search operation in Khonmoh area of Srinagar on Saturday.

The residents of the area took to the streets and staged protest demonstrations against the killing of the youth. Indian police and troops used brute force to disperse the protesters, triggering intense clashes between the demonstrators and the forces’ personnel.