Srinagar, July 08 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, tens of thousands of Indian soldiers and police personnel patrolled deserted streets across the territory, today, to enforce strict curfew and other restrictions on the first martyrdom anniversary of popular youth leader, Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
The troops had drawn warning lines on the roads with the directions that those who would cross these lines would be shot dead. However, people flouting warning came out of their houses in many areas and staged anti-India protests. They raised pro-Pakistan, pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Pro-freedom songs were also played on loudspeakers from mosques. Crippling strike was held all across the Kashmir Valley, Bhadarwah and other parts of Jammu region.
The troops had blocked roads with concertina wires to check pedestrian and vehicular movement. All roads leading to Tral, the hometown of Burhan Wani, were completely sealed with Army conducting flag march and warning people not to venture out from their houses to join protest rallies. The martyrs’ graveyard and Eidgah where Wani’s funeral prayers were held were also sealed. Media reports said that one could see only men in uniform on the roads, fields, orchards and streets of Tral, and it looked as civilian population did not exist in the town.
Dozens of civilians, including nine women, received pellet injuries when troops used force on protesters in Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and other areas. Despite complete siege of Tral hundreds of youth tried to march towards Burhan Wani’s grave in Sharifabad area of the town. The troops fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells on the protesters, triggering clashes. Earlier, police raided the Burhan Wani’s house and harassed the inmates. At many places, the troops thrashed people and beat them. Police arrested eminent religious scholar and Ummat-e-Islami Chairman, Qazi Yasir while he was on his way to Tral from Pampore.
Meanwhile, posters and graffiti extolling Burhan Wani were seen everywhere in the Kashmir valley. Banners with pictures of Burhan Wani and Syed Ali Gilani also appeared at various places.
Today’s strike was a part of the weeklong protest calendar called by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Wani. The authorities suspended internet and train services in the territory.
All resistance leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi and Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai continued to remain in detention or under house arrest.
The AJK chapter of APHC organized a protest rally in Islamabad in commemoration of martyrdom anniversary of Buran Muzaffar Wani. The leaders on the occasion said that martyr Burhan Wani had infused new blood in the ongoing freedom movement.
