Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC & world over observe India’s Independence Day as Black Day

SRINAGAR/ISLAMABAD, August 15 (SABAH): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and the world over observed the Indian Independence Day on Tuesday as Black Day in protest against New Delhi’s illegal occupation of their homeland.

The Kashmiris across the world staged anti-India demonstrations to draw world’s attention towards the Indian brutalities in the occupied territory.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference leadership in its statement said India has no right to celebrate its Independence Day in IIOJK as it is holding the territory against the will of the Kashmiri people.

The leaders said India is rejoicing on its freedom but killing Kashmiris for demanding the same. Isn’t it a matter of shame for New Delhi? They pointed out that Indian armed forces has mercilessly killed over 500,000 Kashmiris in last 76 years but is still observing its Independence Day in the territory shamelessly.

New Delhi, they added, is celebrating its freedom from Britishers, today, but denying the same to the IIOJK people. .

Meanwhile, Indian troops, paramilitary and police personnel were deployed in strength in every nook and corner of the territory, subjecting the people to immense discomfort.

A multi-layer security blanket involving helicopter reconnaissance and drone surveillance was planned to ensure smooth conduct of India’s Independence Day celebrations in Kashmir. Elite Special Operational Group personnel assisted by Indian army and paramilitary forces started carrying out area domination exercises around city centre Lal Chowk and Bakshi stadium, the venue of the main Independence Day function in the valley.

Posters again appeared in different areas of the territory. The posters said that India had invaded Jammu and occupied Kashmir forcibly against the will of Kashmiri people.

Meanwhile the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration in front of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.

The protesters, holding black flags, were chanting “Go India Go back, we want freedom from Indian illegal occupation, Wake up UN wake up and, Kashmir seeks attention” slogans.

Addressing the protesters, speakers said, Kashmiris have been sacrificing their lives for freedom for the last 76 years and against Indian oppression.

They said the right of self-determination is the basic right of Kashmiris and the struggle will continue till complete independence from India. The speakers said that if the United Nations and world powers did not play their role, the Indian Army would have had to leave the region in disgrace.

The speakers urged the United Nations to play its role in peaceful resolution of the lingering Kashmir dispute so that permanent peace could be established in the entire South Asian region.

Among those who spoke on the occasion and attended the protest included Mehmood Ahmad Saghar, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Syed Yosuf Naseem, Shaikh Abdul Mateen, Shaikh Muhammad Yaqoob, Adv Pervaiz Ahmed Shah, Hassan Bana, Zahid Safi, Imtiyaz Wani, Mushtaq Ahmed Butt, Syed Aijaz Rehmani, Altaf Ahmed Butt, Yousuf Daud Zai, Muhammad Sultan Butt, Nisar Mirza, Muhammad Hussain Khateeb, Kahdim Hussain, Adeel Mushtaq Wani, Shaikh Majid, Muhammad Ashraf Dar, Gulshan Ahmed, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdul Majeeb, Zahid Ashraf, Afsar Chaudhary, Director Liberation Cell, Khan Afsar Khan, and Najeebuallah.