India’s Independence Day in Kashmir

Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over observed the Indian Independence Day, 15 August, as Black Day to convey to the world that the people of Kashmir have yet to exercise their birth right to self-determination.

Call for the observance of the Day had been given by the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani and all other liberation leaders and groups.

The occupation authorities had made unprecedented arrangements to thwart anti-India protest demonstrations on the day, imposing curfew in several cities and towns. Police and paramilitary troops had sealed all the roads leading to the Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar, the main venue for the official function, while sharp shooters had been deployed on the top of various buildings in different areas in the city.

In a daring deed, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of local police hurled a shoe at the puppet Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir, Omar Abdullah when he was taking salute after unfurling the Indian flag at Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar. After hurling the shoe, the police officer raised a black flag shouting the slogan, “We want freedom". Indian troops immediately took him into custody.

On the other hand, Indian troops, in their fresh acts of state terrorism, martyred two more innocent youth one each of them in Kupwara and Rajouri areas. Two persons including a teenager were killed when Indian police fired upon protestors in Narbal and Islamabad. Protests continued in Banihal area of Ramban district.

In Muzaffarabad, the APHC-AJK staged a protest outside the Press Club against Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir. A memorandum was presented to the United Nations Observers’ Office on the occasion.

And in Brussels, hundreds of Kashmiris and their sympathizers staged a peaceful protest demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy to protest against the gross human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. Addressing the demonstrators, the Chairman of Kashmir centre Brussels, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo expressed his anguish on the continued occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and denial of Kashmiris’ right of self-determination by India.

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