SRI NA GA R In occupied Kashmir, Indian police arrested dozens of people including shopkeepers in different areas of the Kashmir valley. Indian police during operations arrested around one hundred Kashmiris including shopkeepers and seized 10 vehicles in Budgam, Qalamabad, Vilgam, Kralgund and Handwara areas. Most of the shopkeepers defied restrictions and lockdown, imposed by the Indian authorities on the pretext of coronavirus, the media reports said. Police booked several people for defying the lockdown, police officials said. On the other hand, Indian police beat up several people in Soibug area of Budgam district. Meanwhile, the troops continued their cordon and search operations in Kupwara, Handwara, Sopore, Hajin, Kangan, Zainapura, Shopian, Islamabad and other areas. The Jammu and Kashmir Young Men’s League (JKYML) Vice Chairman, Zahid Ashraf, has condemned in strongest terms the harassment and beating of party activists by Indian troops in Srinagar and Islamabad areas of occupied Kashmir during the last several days of clampdown. Zahid Ashraf in a statement issued in Islamabad termed the high-handedness of the colonial apparatus as the worst display of state terrorism. He said that using the corona scare and the ensuing blockade for targeting the pro-freedom activists spoke volumes about the antipathetic and rabid colonial mindset which deserved strongest condemnation. Zahid Ashraf said that the brutal behavior of the occupation authorities was further strengthening the Kashmiris’ resolve for achieving freedom from the Indian yoke.rorism.—KMS
