Srinagar, August 22, 2018 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Eid–ul-Azha, today, was marked by anti-India, pro-Pakistan and pro-liberation demonstrations in Srinagar and other parts of the territory. Despite stringent restrictions by the authorities, immediately after Eid prayers, people in large numbers took to the streets in Srinagar, Islamabad, Shopian, Pulwama, Tral, Bijbehara, Kulgam Ganderbal, Kangan, Qazigund, Kupwara, Handwara, Langate, Lolab, Baramulla, Patten, Bandipore, Hajin, Budgam, Chadoora and other areas of the territory.
The protesters shouted high-pitched slogans, We Want Freedom, Go India Go back and Pakistan Zindabad. Dozens of people were critically injured after Indian police personnel fired pellets, teargas shells and resorted to baton charge to quell the protesters at Eidgah and Dargah Hazratbal in Srinagar, Achajipora and Janglat Mandi in Islamabad, Sopore, Palhalan and Kupwara areas. Thousands of people led a march and hoisted Pakistan’s flag in Kishtwar town of Jammu region.
Meanwhile, mammoth Eid gatherings were held in many mosques in the valley including Dargah Hazratbal and Eidgah in Srinagar. The United Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik expressed serious concern over the use of brute force against the demonstrators and worshippers.
It denounced the occupation authorities for the plight of political prisoners languishing in different jails of the occupied territory and India, The Joint Resistance leadership said that many people have been kept behind the bars for years together and those booked by Indian agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the National Investigation Agency were being kept in solitary confinement and deprived of medical facilities.
They said that on one hand, New Delhi was employing ploys to change the Muslim majority character of the territory by trying to roll back state subject laws while on the other, so-called legal notices and summons were being sent to the resistance leaders to push them into submission. The 89-year-old APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani had to observe his 20th Eid in a row inside his home in Hyderpora in Srinagar, today. He was prevented by the authorities from stepping out of his house.
Hurriyet leaders, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Massarat Aalam Butt, Sayeda Asiya Andarbi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Naheeda Nasreen, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ayaz Akbar, Mehraj-ud-Din Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Peer Saifullah, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori and hundreds of Hurriyat leaders and youth are under illegal detention in different jails in Jammu region and in India’s infamous Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
On the other hand, former puppet Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah was booed by people and showed shoes by them when he appeared in Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, today. A Special Police Officer was killed in an attack in Awgam area of Kulgam district and unidentified gunmen killed one Shabbir Ahmad Butt at Pathan in Pulwama.
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