Complete shutdown observed in IIOJK today
OIC voices concern over rights situation in Kashmir
Srinagar: A complete shutdown was observed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, today, in protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disputed territory.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, call for the strike was given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was supported by all Hurriyat leaders and organizations. Traffic movement remained very thin in Srinagar and adjoining areas as the city was declared Red Zone.
Stringent restrictions marked by the proliferation of checkpoints were imposed across the Kashmir Valley. Additional deployments of Indian troops were evident in and around Srinagar, notably surrounding the Bakshi Stadium, the chosen venue for Modi’s rally. Drones and CCTV cameras were deployed to monitor civilian activities. Besides, hundreds of Kashmiri youth were arrested during raids, crackdowns and search operations conducted by Indian military and police personnel over the past few days.
Omar Abdullah, the Vice-President of the National Conference, in a statement in Srinagar said that the government employees were forced to attend Narendra Modi’s rally under the threat of disciplinary actions. He shared a document on social media listing employees who were ordered to report to the venue as early as 4:30 am in freezing temperatures. Abdullah also mentioned that private schools were instructed to provide buses for ferrying employees to the rally venue.
Meanwhile, a protest rally was taken out at the Press Club in Muzaffarabad against Modi’s visit to occupied Jammu and Kashmir today. Organized by Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, the protesters denounced India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has voiced deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on behalf of the Islamic countries, Bilal Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations addressing the the Human Rights Council during its general debate in Geneva called upon India to adhere to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and implement recommendations outlined in the two Kashmir reports by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
