Srinagar, May 10: A general strike called by the lawyers against what it termed failure of judiciary in Indian Kashmir in crippled life in the troubled region on Monday.
Protesters being taken away by police after some violence erupted during the strike.
All shops, business establishments, government offices, banks and financial institutions remained closed while vehicle traffic were off the roads. Only police, paramilitary, military and some private vehicles were plying on the deserted roads.
The authorities had increased presence of police and paramilitary soldiers in the sensitive areas in Srinagar and other vulnerable places in Kashmir. The police and paramilitary soldiers had erected barricades at several places and were not allowing more than four persons to assemble at a single person.
However, defying restrictions youth took to roads at Bohri Kadal, Batamaloo, Parimpora, Baramulla and Sopore areas in Kashmir and staged pro-freedom demonstration. Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors were demanding release of the Kashmiri detainees and end to HR abuses. The protestors clashed with the cops, who fired tear smoke shells and rubber bullets and resorted to baton charge. The protestors retaliated by hurling bricks and stones towards the cops. At least 12 persons sustained injuries during the clashes, which continued for quite some time.
Two of the injured are said to have received rubber bullet injuries.
Meanwhile, most of the separatist leaders were placed under house arrest to prevent them from leading anti-India demonstrations.
The lawyers have thanked people for observing complete shutdown. “The strike was observed to protest against collapse of the judicial in Indian Kashmir,” president of Kashmir Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom said.
He said the separatist leaders and Kashmiri youth are being detained despite courts ordering their release.
They should visit here in Gilgit. There are no human rights and any anti-Pakistani violence ends in treason charges which amount to death, and it is all kept secret. Look at people in indian kashmir, we hear about their pettty demonstrations all the time but they don’t realise we have it much worse. I feel ashamed of our kashmiri brothers who are brainwashed by terrorists.
They should visit here in Gilgit. There are no human rights and any anti-Pakistani violence ends in treason charges which amount to death, and it is all kept secret. Look at people in indian kashmir, we hear about their pettty demonstrations all the time but they don’t realise we have it much worse. I feel ashamed of our kashmiri brothers who are brainwashed by terrorists.