SRINAGAR: The ‘puppet authorities’, in a fresh crackdown, arrested – or put under house detention – almost all resistance leaders to prevent them from leading a march towards south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday.
Call for the march was given by the joint resistance leadership, comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, to express solidarity with the families of the youth who were martyred by Indian forces on Sunday. Muhammad Yasin Malik was arrested by a police, who raided his Maisuma residence in Srinagar, this morning.
The occupation authorities put Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, QaziYasir, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Omar Aadil, Firdous Ahmad Shah and other Hurriyet leaders under house arrest or in custody.
The authorities imposed curfew and other restrictions across the Kashmir Valley to foil the march towards Kulgam district. All roads leading to Kulgam had been closed and nobody was allowed to move.
Indian police and paramilitary personnel, wearing riot gears, were deployed in strength to thwart any attempt by people to take to the streets. Normal life remained crippled in Islamabad, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Bandipora areas due to shut down against the innocent killings. Shops and other business establishments remained closed while traffic was off the road.
Meanwhile, the joint resistance leadership has issued a fresh protest calendar from tomorrow till 28th of February. According to a statement issued by the leadership, ‘Resistance Day’ will be observed on Friday against the surge in killing of innocent youth by Indian troops. Peaceful protests will be held throughout the Valley after Friday prayers.
