Eid marked by pro freedom, pro Pakistan demos in Occupied Kashmir

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed a mammoth Eid congregation at Jamia Masjid.

Srinagar (Web Desk): In occupied Kashmir, Eid–ul- Fitr, today, was marked by forceful anti- India and pro-freedom demonstrations and use of brute force by Indian paramilitary personnel on peaceful protesters. Several youth were injured after the troops fired pellets and teargas shells on protesters in Srinagar, Shopian, Islamabad, Sopore and Kupwara areas. Immediately after Eid prayers, today, a larger number of youth took to the streets and shouted high-pitched pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom slogans in Srinagar, Islamabad, Shopian, Pulwama, Sopore, Palhalan, Kupwara, Kishtwar and other parts of the occupied territory. Pakistani flags were hoisted in Srinagar, Kishtwar and other areas of the Valley .The people in Kishtwar town offered salute to Pakistani flag. The Chairman of Hurriyat forum, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed a mammoth Eid congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and sympathised with the families of Kashmiri martyrs who rendered their precious lives for resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The authorities had placed All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani under house arrest and did not allow him to join Eid prayers in Srinagar. Syed Ali Gilani in a statement lauded the important role played by incarcerated resistance leadership and youth and urged the United Nations to fulfill its moral, political and diplomatic responsibilities in resolving the long pending Kashmir dispute. Indian troops in their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred 34 Kashmiris including a young boy during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the data issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, today, of those martyred three were killed in custody. During the month, 497 people were critically injured due to the firing of pellets, bullets and teargas shells by Indian army, paramilitary and police personnel on peaceful demonstrators in the occupied territory while 137 civilians including a woman were arrested. The troops molested at least 5 women and damaged and ransacked 39 houses in 303 cordon and search operations during the holy month. On the other hand, unidentified gunmen barged into a house and killed a woman identified as Nageena Jan and injured another person, Jalalud Din Bafanda at Narbal in Kakapora area of Pulwama district. Meanwhile, a head constable of Indian Border Security Force committed suicide in Pulwama district raising the number of such deaths amongst the Indian troops and police personnel to 429 in occupied Kashmir since January 2007 till date.