In occupied Kashmir, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of three martyred youth in different areas of Shopian district, today.
The youth identified as Zahid Mir, Asif Ahmad and Irfan Abdullah were martyred by Indian troops during a cordon and search operation in Keller area of the district, last night. Multiple rounds of prayers were held to accommodate an ocean of people, who had turned up to attend the funerals. The youth were laid to rest in Ganowpora, Kathokalan and Heff areas of the district amid anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Mujahideen appeared in the funeral of Zahid Mir and offered him a gun salute. The killing triggered complete shutdown in Shopian district.
The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik in a statement in Srinagar reiterated the Kashmiris’ resolve to continue the struggle for securing their right to self-determination with zeal and dedication. The leaders asked people to focus on their mission of freedom from India and reject all follies propounded by Indian occupational forces. They said that the braid-chopping was a serious and sensitive issue and they would never tolerate this humiliation. Gilani, Mirwaiz and Malik said that the Kashmiris were facing military might of India and its deceitful policies in the territory.
Meanwhile, protests erupted as braids of four more women were chopped off in Srinagar, Gandarbal, Bandipora and Baramulla districts, today. Protesters mostly women took to streets in different areas of the occupied territory while shopkeepers downed their shutters to record their protests against the disgraceful acts. Government employees also protested at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar against the incidents. They demanded action against the culprits, who are backed and protected by Indian army. Today, braid of a 27-year-old woman was chopped off in Sumbal area of Bandipora. The victim woman was in the washroom when two unknown persons sprayed some chemical on her, knocking her unconscious.
Hurriyat leaders including Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi and Ghulam Nabi War in their joint statement strongly condemned the arrest of human rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, by Indian police. Untoo was arrested yesterday while protesting against the braid-chopping incidents.
Relatives of disappeared persons staged a sit-in at Pratap Park in Srinagar to seek the whereabouts of their loved ones who were subjected to enforced disappearance by Indian forces during custody.
On the other hand, Indian troops raided and ransacked the residence of a religious scholar, Maulana Altaf Hussain Nadvi, in Sallar area of Islamabad district. The troops also destroyed the personal library of the scholar without any reason.
