Srinagar, October 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):Indian authorities have converted the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir into a military garrison on the visit of Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, adding to the miseries of besieged people of the territory.
Amit Shah landed in Srinagar today on a three-day visit to IIOJK. This is his first visit to the territory since abrogation of its special status by Narendra Modi-led fascist Indian government on August 05, 2019. Srinagar is giving the look of a fortress as the authorities have deployed Indian troops and police personnel in strength across the city.
Bunkers manned by paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force have come up in several areas of the city while sharp-shooters have been deployed on high-rise buildings. Indian police are also using drones to keep a watch on the movement of people.
Barricades have been put up on the roads across the valley while frisking and checking of people has been intensified. Mobile internet services on a dozen towers were snapped three days ago as part of the security measures. Indian police in a massive crackdown seized hundreds of motorcycles during the last few days.
Meanwhile, Indian government has sent 50 more companies of paramilitary forces to IIOJK to suppress the Kashmiris’ ongoing freedom struggle. These paramilitary personnel have been deployed in different parts of the Kashmir Valley, particularly Srinagar.
The illegally detained All Parties Hurriyat Conference Vice Chairman, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, in a message from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail expressed grave concern over the grim situation in IIOJK. He reiterated the APHC’s appeal to the people of the territory to observe complete shutdown on 27 October to convey a strong message to India that they reject its illegal occupation of their homeland.
It was on 27 October in 1947 when Indian troops had invaded Jammu and Kashmir and occupied it in total violation of the Partition Plan of the subcontinent and against the Kashmiris’ aspirations. Posters have also appeared in different areas of the occupied territory asking people to observe complete shutdown on 27 October.
APHC leader and the chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Social Peace Forum, Advocate Devinder Singh Behl, and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League in their statements expressed serious concern over the shifting of illegally detained Kashmiris from various prisons of the Kashmir Valley to the Agra Jail in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. They termed the move as political vengeance on part of the occupation authorities.
On the other hand, a report released by Kashmir Media Service, today, said Kashmiri journalists are witnessing systemic intimidation and harassment at the hands of the authorities for highlighting the Indian atrocities in IIOJK. It said, press freedom is under serious threat as raids, summons, harassment, arrests and physical abuse of journalists has become a routine matter in IIOJK. The report added that seven journalists have been arrested by Indian police during house raids in different areas of the occupied territory in the last two weeks.
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Kashmir Media Service
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