In occupied Kashmir, Hurriyat forum Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other Hurriyat leaders and organizations have paid glowing tributes to the Jammu martyrs of November 1947.
Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were killed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian army and Hindu extremists in different parts of Jammu region while they were migrating to Pakistan during the first week of November in 1947.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar termed the great sacrifices offered by the lakhs of Muslims in Jammu region as a great asset to the on-going movement of right to self-determination movement. He said the hearts of people of Kashmir and Jammu region especially Chenab and Doda valley beat in unison ‘as our political aspirations are one, a fact which can’t be ignored’.
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), paying tributes to the martyrs of Jammu martyrs on their anniversary, said the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Muslims on November 1947 was a holocaust. It said the Muslims and other peace-loving communities of Jammu have to follow the mission for which the 1947 martyrs sacrificed their lives. They have to foil the wicked conspiracies of the communal elements,” he added.
Hurriyat leaders including Zafar Akabar Butt, Muhammad Shafie Lone, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Javed Ahmad Mir, Muslim League Jammu and Kashmir, Hakeem Abdur Rasheed and others in their separate statements said that in 1947, Muslims of Jammu were massacred in such a brutal manner that the percentage of Muslims in that region declined from 66 to 38 percent. “We are following the mission of these martyrs and pledged to pursue it till right to self-determination is achieved.
Referring to Kashmir dispute, the leaders impressed all stakeholders to create conducive atmosphere and added that tripartite talks is the only practicable and achievable solution to long pending dispute.
They stressed authorities to illustrate sincerity and release all detainees languishing since along. It will send a message that parties to dispute are sincere and added that India needs to show restraint and make an end to human rights violations in state and repeal of black laws.
