Srinagar: Posters have emerged across Srinagar and other regions of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, urging residents to mark India’s Republic Day on January 26 as Black Day.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, these posters have been displayed by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other groups. The messages on the posters include “26 January, Indian Republic Day is a Black Day for Kashmiris,” “UN must fulfill its plebiscite promise with the Kashmiris,” and “India is trying to hoodwink international organizations regarding Kashmir.”

The posters feature images of figures such as APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Vice Chairman Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chairperson Aasiya Andrabi, Mushtaqul Islam, and other APHC leaders. They are strategically placed on walls, poles, and public spaces throughout the area.

Additionally, the posters pay homage to those who lost their lives in massacres reportedly carried out by Indian forces in Sopore, Gawkadal Srinagar, Handwara, and Kupwara during January.

The APHC has expressed concerns regarding the current situation in IIOJK as India prepares to celebrate its Republic Day. The imposition of stricter lockdown measures and the increased presence of Indian forces have reportedly created a climate of fear, leaving residents feeling insecure about their lives, honor, and dignity.

India’s Republic Day is celebrated on January 26 to commemorate the adoption of its Constitution in 1950, marking its declaration as a secular state. However, the APHC has emphasized that the state is now influenced by the Hindutva ideology of the RSS-BJP, which they claim promotes occupation and communal agendas.