SRINAGAR: The occupied Kashmir has completed 31 days under the siege of brutal Indian forces where the unrelenting communications blackout and curfew have brought the normal life to a standstill with markets shut and public transport off the roads since August 5.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Kashmir valley remains cut off from the rest of the world since August 05 due to the continued blockade and suspension of internet, mobile and landline phones and closure of TV channels.
The worst type of humanitarian crisis is looming large on the horizon of the occupied territory as people are facing acute shortage of food, medicines and other commodities. Hospitals have run out of medicine stock, while staff finds it difficult to turn up for duty due to curfew and restrictions imposed after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status a month ago.
On the other hand, The clampdown has badly affected the trade between the Jammu region and Kashmir Valley with manufacturers and traders unable to recover payments. An estimated financial loss of around Rs 500 crore has been suffered by industries in Jammu as they are not receiving orders nor able to recover payments from the Valley and other districts.
Despite curfew and restrictions, Kashmiri youth took to the streets in Pulwama, Ganderbal, Poonch and Rajouri districts and staged anti-India protests. Scores of youth were injured when they clashed with the forces’ personnel.
Meanwhile, the UK-based newspaper, The Independent, quoting victims of Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir said the troops beat the Kashmiri youth, black and blue. The paper maintained that the youth are stripped naked and then beaten with canes, gun-butts and kicks, besides being electrocuted. They are also forced to drink muddy water.
A Delhi court has endorsed the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami of occupied Kashmir. A tribunal headed by the Delhi High Court Judge upheld the government’s decision saying the Jamaat has been actively indulging in pro-freedom activities.
