Srinagar
In occupied Kashmir, the situation is becoming increasingly dire for the poor and working class due to the Indian military siege and lockdown which have kept the routine life paralyzed since August 05, last year.
The military siege has largely affected the poor and working class of the society while the business community is also worried. Thousands of people associated with the tourism sector, including hoteliers, houseboats, hunters, taxi drivers and craftsmen have been rendered jobless since August 05, 2019.
These people said that since August 5 when India repealed the special status of occupied Kashmir and imposed lockdown, their situation was very bad and they were facing difficulties in running their business.
They deplored that the authorities had also tightened the lockdown in the area under the guise of coronavirus and increased the restrictions, which further ruined their business and created employment problems for daily workers.
They said that the number of families living below the poverty line in Srinagar and other parts of the valley was in thousands and these families included those who worked as daily-wagers. Due to the downfall, these people have become completely unemployed, they added.
APHC-AJK leader and Vice Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Employees Movement, Imtiaz Wani, has expressed concern over the surge in Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir.
Imtiaz Wani in a statement issued in Islamabad condemned the continued cordon and search operations in occupied Kashmir by Indian troops. He deplored that when the entire world is fighting the deadly COVID-19, India is committing brutalities in the occupied territory. He said that Kashmiris would never tolerate the killing spree and atrocities and would continue protest against India’s undemocratic and inhuman acts.—KMS
