India's Independence Day Observed As Black Day In IOK

Fakhir Rizvi Published August 15, 2016 | 11:43 AM

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Augst,2016) : Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world are observing India's Independence Day on Monday (today), as Black Day to convey the message to the world that India has illegally occupied their homeland. Despite curfew and other restrictions, the day is being marked by pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India rallies and protests in occupied Kashmir, KMS reported.

Besides, there is complete strike in the territory, call for which has been jointly given by the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, and other Hurriyet leaders, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. The authorities have converted the entire territory into a garrison through imposing unrelenting curfew and other restrictions for smooth conduct of the day celebrations.

All markets are shut and roads wear a deserted look as the uprising triggered by killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani shows no sign of an end.

Srinagar city, where the main function of India's Independence Day is to be held at Bakshi Stadium amid the multi- tier cover in the name of security, remains reduced to a ghost city.

Police and paramilitary personnel have sealed off most roads in Srinagar as curfew and shutdown continued in all 10 districts of the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu region on the 38th consecutive day, today, while pedestrian movement is almost missing. "It looks like a garrison," a police officer posted in Lal Chowk area remarked while patrolling along the empty Residency Road, an otherwise busy commercial market area in the city. The only sound that broke the silence around the city centre during the unusually strict phase of restrictions was the call for prayer blaring from mosque loudspeakers.

At times during the quiet day, freedom songs blared out from the same loudspeakers. The authorities continued to put entire Hurriyet leadership under detention either in jails or at their residences.