Violent military operation
India tightens restrictions on people’s movements to prevent possible protests triggered by PM Imran’s UNGA speech
news agencies
SRINAGAR
Indian troops martyred at least six Kashmiri youths on Saturday, a day after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) about India’s brutalities in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir region.
According to the Kashmir media service, the Indian occupation forces martyred three youths in Naranag area of Ganderbal during a violent military operation. Three other Kashmiris were martyred by Indian troops in Batote area of Ramban district in Jammu region.
Earlier in the day, authorities in India-Occupied Kashmir tightened restrictions on people’s movements on Saturday to prevent possible protests triggered by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at United Nations General Assembly.
PM Khan, in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, had warned there would be a bloodbath once India lifts its restrictions in Occupied Kashmir which have been in force since the Modi government revoked the region’s decades-old autonomy in August and detained thousands of people.
Soon after the speech, hundreds of Kashmiris had come out of their homes, shouting slogans in support of Khan late on Friday night and calling for the independence of Kashmir.
On Saturday, police vans fitted with speakers made public announcements in some parts of Srinagar about movement restrictions, while additional troops were deployed to prevent any protests, according to officials and two witnesses.
The troops also blocked access to the main business centre of Srinagar with razor wire.
“This was necessitated after protests across Srinagar city last night soon after Imran Khan’s speech,” said a police official, who declined to be identified.
India’s crackdown as it revoked Kashmir’s special status was accompanied by severe restrictions on movement, as well as disconnection of telephone services.
In some areas in Kashmir — including the Soura region near Srinagar which has witnessed protests in the past against India’s decision — people clashed with security forces by pelting stones on Friday night, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse them, said the Indian official.
A Kashmiri while speaking to BBC Hindi said: “After Almighty Allah, we have our trust in Imran Khan […] we thank him for [supporting our cause].”
