- Resistance camp calls for shutdown today against
civilian killings
SRINAGAR, April 9: In occupied Kashmir, at least eight including two teenage boys were martyred and dozens were injured after Indian forces opened fire on protestors in Bagdam, Srinagar and Gandarbal districts on Sunday on the occasion of by-polls in Indian parliaments seat in Srinagar.
The martyrs were identified as 15-year-old Faizan Ahmad Dar, Jan Muhammad Rathar, Nisar Ahmad, Shabbir Ahmad Butt, Aadil Ahmad Sheikh and Aqeel Ahmad Wani. Two youth were martyred in Delwin area of Charar-e-Sharif, two at Beerwah in Badgam district, while Shabbir Ahmad Butt and Aadil Ahmad Sheikh were killed in forces’ firing on protesters in Chadoora and Narbal areas of Badgam.
The youth were martyred after protests erupted in retaliation to the firing by Indian forces on protestors. Many youth including two women were hit by pellets and bullets in different parts of the territory.
Primary Health Centre (PHC) Soibugh in Badgam received 30 youth who were hit by pellet during clashes. Two civilians were injured in Wagar, Khan Sahib in Badgam district. A youth from Zankote area of Srinagar was hit by a bullet during the protests.
“Situation is highly tense in Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief and Beerwa areas,” a police officer confirmed. He said clashes are right now going on in at least five places in Budgam district alone. “We are in the pr
ocess of collecting more details,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, sporadic incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Badgam and Ganderbal districts of central Kashmir which are part of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency where polling began at 7 AM. Youth entered polling stations in Charar-e-Sharif and threw staff out. A youth was martyred in Atina village of Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district after being hit by a bullet during clashes on polling day on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Akeel Ahmad Wani, resident of Churmujroo.
Massive clashes erupted in Budgam district, forcing the authorities to close down polling stations.
Meanwhile the Joint Resistance Leadership on Sunday has called for shutdown today (Monday) against the killings of civilians during the clashes in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Meanwhile in occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed against the sham Indian parliamentary elections being held for Srinagar constituency on Sunday.
Call for the shutdown was given by joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. Traffic remained off the road in the city areas and peripheries while shops and business establishments are also closed. City center Lal Chowk gives a deserted look.
Stringent measures in the name of security had been taken with deployment of Indian troops and police personnel across the territory, causing huge inconvenience to the people. Authorities suspended all internet services in the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Gandarbal where voting was scheduled on Sunday for the parliamentary by-elections.
Both mobile internet and fixed line broadband connectivity were suspended in the three poll-bound districts which constitute Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency. The authorities refused to confirm the suspension of the internet connectivity on record.
Ruling Peoples Democratic Party candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan is challenged by former Chief Minister and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah. Although there are nine candidates in the fray, the contest is mainly between Khan and Abdullah who is the joint candidate of the National Conference and the Congress.-Sabah
