20000405

Complete strike

observed in

occupied Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Complete strike is being observed across occupied Kashmir on Tuesday on the call of All Parties Hurriyat Conference to protest against the bestial killing of 15 innocent citizens, reports Kashmir Media Service (KMS).

These innocent citizens were killed when the Indian forces opened fire on demonstrators protesting against the massacre of Kashmiri youths in a false encounter in Pathriball, Islamabad.

The bar association and traders' federation have also supported the strike which has paralysed life across the valley.

All business centres, markets government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, banks and courts are closed and traffic is off the road.

Meanwhile, acting chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mir Waiz Umar Farooq continues to be under house arrest and his residence has been cordoned off by the Indian police personnel.

Besides, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom party chief Shabbir Ahmad Shah also remains under detention at the Owantinpora Jail. He was arrested while leading a procession in Islamabad on Monday.

A ban has been clamped on all kinds of public meetings and processions.

Meanwhile, in Southern Kashmir, tension grips the whole area following Monday's massacre of innocent citizens by the Indian forces and police personnel. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Islamabad, Mattan, Achhaball, and Khannaball town and contingents of military and para-military forces are patrolling the area where life has come to a standstill and roads give a deserted look.

The public demonstrations and sit-ins continuing for the past two weeks entered a deadly phase when the Indian troops opened indiscriminate firing near Bragpora on a procession moving towards Islamabad, killing 15 people and injuring many others.

Those who embraced martyrdom include Nisar Ahmad Khan, Halim Khan, Akhtar Ali Khan, Mohammad Rafi Khan, Fayyaz Ahmad Khan beside two brothers Noor-ul-Amin and Noorani Khan. All of the belonged to Brari Angan.

Many of the area held demonstrations and took out processions defying the curfew restrictions. There are also reports about stone throwing and tear gassing.

In Jammu, the assembly session had to be prorogued after riotous scenes.

The members, many of them belonging to ruling National Conference, castigated the Indian and puppet governments for staging the bloodshed at Chattisinghpora first and then blaming the Mujahideen for it and later arresting and murdering the innocent citizens and passing them on as foreigners when dead bodies of those killed were demanded.

The National Conference assembly members said as a result of the atrocities and cruelties being perpetrated against the Kashmiris, they could not face the people nor venture out of their houses.ÑAPP