In fresh acts of state terrorism, Indian security forces Thursday martyred four more Kashmiri youths in three districts of the occupied valley.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, the killings, which took place in Srinagar, Badgam and Islamabad districts, took the number of martyred youngsters to 18 since last Thursday.
The troops killed two youths at Panzan in Badgam and one in Dooru area of Islamabad during search-and-cordon operations. Another youngster, identified as Saleem Malik, was killed when the troops resorted to unprovoked firing on his house in Noorbagh area of Srinagar.
Thousands of people defied restrictions to attend funeral prayers of the martyrs. Clashes erupted between mourners and the Indian security personnel when the body of Saleem Malik was being carried to Eidgah in Srinagar for burial.
The killings sparked protests and clashes between demonstrators and the Indian forces in other areas as well. The protesters raising pro-independence, pro-Pakistan and anti-India chants fought pitched battles with Indian troops and police personnel in Panzam, Srinagar, Kulgam, Islamabad and other areas. They also waved Pakistan’s national flag. The students of Kashmir University Srinagar and the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora Pulwama, held forceful demonstrations against the killings, according to the KMS. The authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar and snapped internet services in three districts fearing more protests against the killing spree.
Meanwhile, the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik has called for a complete shutdown in the valley on Friday (today) against the killing spree and the arrest of Hurriyat leaders and Kashmiri activists.
A spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party in a statement expressed anguish over the killings of Kashmiri youths. Terming the killings as barbaric, he said the incidents have vindicated the stance that Kashmir has been turned into a large garrison where Indian forces are on a killing spree.
Published in Daily Times, September 28th 2018.
