India Republic celebrations: A ‘unlit day’ in Kashmir

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations were marked by a security clampdown in Indian-administered Kashmir, as authorities suspended web services and products and thousands of soldiers patrolled the streets.

The main celebratory match was as soon as held amid tight security at a sports stadium in the space’s main city, Srinagar, and was as soon as attended by politicians and high officers of security equipment.

Native residents, on the opposite hand, boycotted the ceremony.

The day is marked to protect in solutions when Structure of India came into make on January 26, 1950.

Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani stated: « India has no correct to grasp an even time Republic Day as it has occupied Jammu Kashmir with its navy would possibly presumably per chance well. »

Geelani leads the All Party Hurriyat Convention (APHC), an amalgam of separatist management in Kashmir.

APHC stated the the day want to be seen as a « unlit day » and called for a boycott all celebrations.

« India claims to be world’s glorious democracy however near to stands exposed in Jammu Kashmir as it’s miles trampling all total and foremost rights of oldsters since past seven decades, » an APHC observation stated.

The Indian flag was as soon as hoisted throughout the ceremony in the divided territory.

Authorities blocked the get and mobile phone networks till Friday afternoon, primarily based totally on their routine prepare on Indian Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.

Barricades had been space up on all main roads of the city, as police utilized quit and search operations.

« For Indians, it’ll very effectively be a colossal day, however for us, we apprehension it. We manufacture no longer in fact feel any belonging to it. Nowadays brings lots of harassment for identical old other folks, » stated 35-Twelve months-venerable Fayaz Ahmad, a Srinagar resident.

« Yesterday I had a clinical emergency and I had to walk to a effectively being heart at night, we had been stopped and frisked at dozen locations. It does not happen with Indians, » he instructed Al Jazeera.

The space noticed recent bouts of violence remaining week, with casualties on all aspects. 

Within the Indian managed side, 12 other folks including six civilians had been killed, increasing the hostilities between the 2 nuclear neighbours.

The originate of the Twelve months has seen an uptick in violence.

On Thursday, in the southern village of Shopian, three other folks, including two rebels and a 17-Twelve months-venerable boy, had been killed in a gun battle. Two girls had been moreover critically wounded. 

‘No longer a day passes with out somebody killed’

Separatist leaders, who are vulnerable to favour merging the space with Pakistan, grasp asked residents to utter after Friday prayers against the newest civilian killings. 

« We had been sold to India and as well they grasp got an even time their existence on the day. Demand identical old other folks about the sufferings beneath Indian rule, no longer a single day passes with out any individual being killed. Nowadays greatest reminds us of zulum (oppression), » Sixty two-Twelve months-venerable Abdul Majeed instructed Al Jazeera.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep among Kashmir’s mostly Muslim population, and most strengthen the rebels’ cause against Indian rule, despite a decades-prolonged navy crackdown to fight dissent.

Revolt groups were battling since 1989 for the Indian-administered portion to become just or merge with Pakistan.

Shut to 70,000 other folks were killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian navy crackdown. India maintains roughly 500,000 soldiers in the territory.