Kashmir being virtually ruled under martial law: Gilani

Shutdown in Pulwama against CRPF firing on civilians

The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that the territory is virtually being ruled under martial law and voice of Hurriyet leaders is being muzzled through brute force.

Syed Ali Gilani addressing the Advisory Council of his forum at Hyderpora in Srinagar, today, maintained that after failing to deal with Hurriyet leadership politically, India was now imposing more restrictions on their free movement. The meeting decided to work out a strategy with consultation of all constituent parties to counter anti-Kashmiri designs of communalist forces of India.

Heads and representatives of Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, Mass Movement, Peoples Freedom League, Democratic Political Movement, Peoples Political League, Anjuman Sharie Shian, Freedom Party, Muslim Conference, National Front, Insaf Party and Employees Movement attended the meeting despite the hurdles, created by Indian army and police. However, the representatives of Islamic Political Party, Muslim Democratic League, Kashmir Freedom Front and Tehreek-e-Muzahamat were intercepted by the police and were not allowed to attend the event.

Senior Hurriyet leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah in a statement in Srinagar said that Indian stubborn attitude towards the Kashmir dispute had created uncertainty in the South Asian region.

A shutdown was observed in Pulwama, today, against the injuries to five persons including a minor girl in unprovoked firing by an Indian paramilitary force in Awantipora. Shops and other business establishments remained shut while public transport remained off the roads. Hurriyet leader including Javed Ahmad Mir and Awami Action Committee leader Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi during their visit to the injured in hospital said that India was committing genocide of the Kashmiris. A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party expressed solidarity with the families of victims at their residences in Pulwama.

Business chambers of Kashmir and Jammu have called for making Jammu and Kashmir a free economic zone to trade with Pakistan, China, and Central Asia. The demand was made at a press conference jointly addressed by presidents of the two chambers Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Rakesh Gupta in Srinagar.

Three Indian troops were injured in a grenade blast carried out by attackers outside an Indian army camp in Kupwara, today.