Afia Ambreen
On 6th November Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and world over will observe the Jammu Martyrs’ Day to reaffirm the resolve to continue the martyrs’ mission till the realization of their inalienable right to self determination. Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were massacred by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian army and Hindu extremists in different parts of Jammu region while they were migrating to Pakistan during the first week of November in 1947. APHC leaders in their statements have paid glowing tributes to the Jammu martyrs. Glorious tributes were paid to over 600,000 martyrs of Jammu through the commemoration of the human history’s bleakest day in the region. The day was observed to remember the supreme sacrifices of lives given by the Muslim residents of Jammu city and other parts of the region this day in 1947 in a week period at the hands of tyrannical dogra and Indian occupational forces and their paid armed fanatic Hindus and bandits.
Over 250,000 Muslim residents of Jammu city and adjoining areas were martyred on the single day of 6th of November 1947 by the despotic dogra forces led by Hindu fanatics / gangsters under a pre-planned conspiracy while they were moving for migration to the beloved Pakistan. The day is observed every year by the Kashmiris to remember the supreme sacrifices rendered by those over 250,000priosners including men, women, children and elderly Muslims who were mercilessly slaughtered by the armed Hindu gangsters including the Indian occupying forces and the dogra military troops near Jammu-Sialkot working boundary.
In occupied Kashmir, 92 days on, situation is still far from normal in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim Majority areas of Jammu and Ladakh regions as Indian forces remain deployed in huge numbers and restrictions in place under Section 144. While landline connections and voice calls on postpaid cellular networks have been partially restored, but ban on internet across all platforms and prepaid mobile phones remain enforced in the territory. As a mark of unprecedented silent resistance against Indian occupation and its August 5 illegal action, people continue to keep their shops shut except for a brief two-hour period in the morning or evening, students stay away from schools and very thin attendance is witnessed in government and private offices. Public transport is also off the roads.
Bhim Singh, chief patron of the J&K National Panthers Party, addressing a press conference in Jammu has urged the Indian President to intervene in J&K affairs so that the present situation emerging due to division of IOK shall not take a volatile turn. The NPP supremo also said an urgent convention should be organised in the middle of Nov after the SC decided the case on the constitutional validity of abrogation of Article 370. Notwithstanding celebrations being organized by the BJP at different places of declaration of J&K into UT, the leaders of the saffron party are facing anger of the people of Jammu for their failure to protect their land and job rights, which were promised to them after August 5 action. But, it is said, that nothing in this regard has been mentioned in the circular issued by the Indian government.
“India has denied us even the right to mourn”, is the cry from these Kashmiri women. The statement sent to The News points to the fact that is Kashmir under siege, caged and imprisoned, with an estimated 4,000 Kashmiris have been arbitrarily detained including politicians, businessmen, accountants, journalists, teachers, and students. Some are being held without charges or trial, while the grounds of detention and whereabouts of a large number, including children as young as ten, moved to prisons outside the state of Jammu & Kashmir, says the statement. The Indian government was criticised for what has become a healthcare and humanitarian crisis resulting in civilian deaths and blinding and other injuries in pellet gun attacks, curtailment of freedom of opinion, expression, and information, assembly and movement; and religious activities.
These global organisations pointed to the fact that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has held 8 million Kashmiris hostage with no constitutional rights, fundamental freedoms and liberties. “The promise of plebiscite given to them and control over their lands, lies shattered”, it adds. Paying tributes to Kashmiri women, the statement said that they have at all times stepped out in protest, being jailed and sexually assaulted but still not given up.
In a nutshell, like all previous years, the Jammu Martyrs Day will commemorated with the renewal of the pledge to continue the mission of Kashmiri martyrs to bring the Kashmir freedom struggle to its logical end. Jammu Kashmir people by observing the day renewed the resolve this year too to continue the struggle for freedom from Indian clutches. The international community should also perform its due obligations for ensuring early peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute in the larger interest of the everlasting peace in the world in general and South Asia in particular.
