Situation in besieged Kashmir intensifies as India's curfew enters 17th day

At least eight protesters sustained critical wounds as Indian forces fired pellet guns and tear-gas.

SRINAGAR (Dunya News) – A youth embraced martyrdom in Baramulla town and eight other Kashmiris sustained critical wounds by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir as India blatantly continues to impose stringent curfew and communications blackout across the Kashmir valley on the 17th consecutive day on Wednesday in a bid to prevent people from holding demonstrations against India’s move of abrogating their special status in the Constitution.

The youth was killed during an all-out operation jointly launched by Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group in Kakarhamam area of the town. The operation, launched on Tuesday evening, was ongoing till last reports came in, Kashmir Media Service reported.

At least eight protesters sustained critical wounds as Indian paramilitary forces fired pellet guns and tear-gas shells as youths in groups came out of their houses in Srinagar and other places to stage anti-India demonstrations. The injured protesters were shifted to hospitals in Srinagar. An official confirmed that at least two dozen stone pelting incidents took place in different areas of the Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, an Indian police officer was killed and a constable of Special Operation Group (SOG) was injured in an attack in Baramula town.

Indian troops also launched a similar operation in Pulwama area where youth also came out of their houses and clashed with the troops.

On the other hand, at least 40 people were arrested during house raids by Indian troops in different areas of Srinagar city.

In another development, Indian police arrested three Kashmiri youth from Pulwama district in Chandigarh city of India and were interrogated by a joint team of Indian crime branch and Operations Cell.

In several places, Kashmiris have defied stringent curfew and other restrictions and took to the streets in Srinagar to protest against the Indian occupation and atrocities after Modi-led Hindu nationalist government revoked of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

All TV channels, landline and cellular phones and internet services are snapped cutting the links of Kashmir with the rest of the world since Narendra Modi government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5th August.

Markets and shops are closed while transport is off the roads since then. Local journalists complain that Indian forces do not allow them to perform their duties.

Since August 4, the Modi-led Hindu nationalist government has been seeking to tighten its grip on the region.

Indian paramilitary personnel have been raiding on the houses, harassing women and detaining people to spread fear for silencing protests for independence.

According to reports, more than 4,000 people have been arrested by Indian forces.

Small groups of armed soldiers, many kitted out in full riot gear, were positioned every few metres in the old quarter, and all stores other than a handful of pharmacies were closed.

In Soura, a densely populated enclave in Srinagar that has been a hotbed of protests since Aug 5, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew the special rights granted to Jammu and Kashmir, locals have built a series of makeshift barricades to keep security forces out.

Many of these have been cobbled together with felled light poles or trees, reinforced with barbed wire and wooden planks, where locals said they were keeping watch every night.

“Article 370 and 35A are our rights, and we will keep fighting till we get them back,” an announcer at the area’s main mosque said following afternoon prayers, referring to the constitutional provisions withdrawn by the Modi government.

After prayers, a local religious leader, who declined to be named, told Reuters that there would be no compromise.

“Even if they pave our roads with gold, we will not relent,” he said.

“What do we want?” he asked the few dozen people surrounding him. “Azadi,” they shouted back, using the Urdu word for freedom, which has long been used a rallying cry.

Local officials said on Tuesday security forces had detained 30 people overnight in Srinagar, in a bid to control protests.

Crowds have demonstrated frequently in the city despite a severe clamp-down on phone and internet services, and a ban on public gatherings and the detentions of hundreds of political leaders and separatists who have campaigned for secession from India.

Youths have pelted stones at paramilitary police deployed in Srinagar, and the latest detentions took place in parts of the city where such incidents have occurred, a police officer said.

“These arrests have been made in the areas where there has been intensifying stone pelting in the last few days,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

A local government official confirmed the latest detentions.

TENSIONS INTENSIFY

The authorities have turned the valley, particularly Srinagar, into a military garrison by deploying thousands of Indian troops and police personnel in every nook and corner.

In Srinagar, troops and policemen are patrolling the deserted streets, lanes and by lanes to thwart any attempt of people to stage anti-India demonstrations.

The authorities also continue to impose information blockade as TV channels and internet links remain snapped and restrictions on media continue. Local newspapers even failed to update their online editions during all this period while majority of them could also not be printed due to curfew and other restrictions.

The withdrawal of the special privileges of Muslim majority Kashmir means residents of all parts of India can buy property and compete for government jobs and college places, raising fears that it will be flooded with outsiders.

Modi’s surprise move has increased tensions with nuclear arch-rival Pakistan after India committed gross human rights’ violations in the territory at the heart of more than 70 years of hostility between them.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urging them to reduce tensions over Kashmir. “A tough situation, but good conversations!” Trump said in a Twitter post after the calls.

Pakistan said on Tuesday it plans to take its dispute with India over Kashmir to the International Court of Justice.

Barriers surrounding the famous clock tower in the Lal Chowk area of central Srinagar - once the epicentre of protests - were removed for the first time since Aug. 5, but adjoining commercial establishments kept their shutters down.

Reuters visited nine schools across Srinagar on Tuesday, none of which had any students in attendance.

Almost all Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Ali Gilani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been put under house arrest or in jails.

Over 900 political leaders and workers including even pro-India politicians like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Engineer Abdur Rasheed and Shah Faesal have been detained. Due to severe blockade, a famine-like situation is emerging as people are facing severe shortage of essential commodities including baby food and life-saving medicines and occupied Kashmir represents a humanitarian crisis in all its manifestations.

With input from Reuters