Kashmiris observe Indian Republic Day as Black Day

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: Kashmiri people living on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world on Wednesday observed the Indian Republic Day as ‘Black Day’ to protest Indian occupation and apprise the international community of their responsibility regarding implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir which guarantee the right of self-determination.

Thousands of police in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) prevented a Hindu nationalist party and a separatist group from raising flags for their opposing causes in a central square on Wednesday to mark India’s Republic Day. Separately, India celebrated its Republic Day under heavy security, with tensions running high in Kashmir over efforts by Hindu nationalists to hold a rally in the troubled region’s state capital.

The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), AJK chapter organised an anti-India protest sit-in outside the United Nations Observers Office in IHK. Forceful anti-India demonstrations were held in Srinagar, Baramulla and Sopore areas on Wednesday.

Scores of men, women and children took to streets and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations against the arrest of a university student, Showkat Bashir, by Special Operation Group at Bumai in Sopore.

According to KMS, the protesters were chanting slogans like “We want freedom”, “Go India Go”, and demanded immediate release of the university student. Two policemen were injured during clashes with pro-freedom protesters at main chowk in Baramulla and Batamaloo in Srinagar.