The Narendra Modi-led Indian government continues to usurp the religious freedom in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, preventing the Muslims from performing their religious obligations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian authorities once again locked the Jamia Masjid Srinagar, today, and prevented holding of Juma prayers there. The authorities deployed Indian troops in strength in Nowhatta and other areas of the city to stop people from reaching the grand mosque. The actions were taken out of the fear that the Juma congregation at the mosque could turn into an anti-India and anti-Israel demonstration. The authorities also kept senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest for the 7th successive week. The Mirwaiz was released from over four-year illegal detention in September just for a few days.
The ban of Juma prayers at the grand mosque exposes the religious bias of the Modi regime against the Muslims of occupied Kashmir. On one hand, it disallows the Muslims from performing their religious obligations, while on the other, it sets into motion all the men and machinery to facilitate the Hindus to observe their religious occasions including the two-month-long Amarnath Yarta. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar strongly denounced the Modi regime’s brutal actions in occupied Kashmir. He urged the international community to play its role in the settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris so that they can enjoy all rights and freedoms like other free people of the world.
Meanwhile, a constable of Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force committed suicide by hanging himself in his room at a camp in Kishtwar district of Jammu region. This incident raised the number of such deaths among the Indian troops and police personnel in the occupied territory to 588 since January 2007.
The family members and relatives of a youth Arjun Kumar held a protest demonstration over his death in the custody of Indian police in Katra area of Reasi district. The protesters blocked roads, disrupting the vehicular movement for hours.
On the other hand, rallies were held in Muzaffarabad and Hatian Bala areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to express solidarity with the oppressed people of occupied Kashmir and Palestine. The participants of the rallies organised by Pasban-e-Hurriyat and Jammu and Kashmir Awami Party were holding banners and placards with slogans condemning the atrocities of India and Israel on the Kashmiris and Palestinians.—KMS
