A heavy deployment of Indian forces has been made in Srinagar and other parts of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir ahead of  the shutdown called by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference to mark 26th January, Indian Republic Day, as Black Day in protest against India’s continued  denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.  According to Kashmir Media Service, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world will observe Indian Republic Day, on Sunday, as Black Day to remind the international community that India continues to deny the people of Kashmir their inalienable right to self-determination. 

APHC spokesman Adv Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement in Srinagar today, said that India has no right to celebrate its Republic Day as it is occupying Jammu and Kashmir with its military might.  The APHC spokesman, while paying tributes to the victims of the Gaw Kadal massacre in Srinagar, stated that Gaw Kadal and other such mass killings were reminiscent of the notorious Jallianwala Bagh massacre, perpetrated by the British government in India. 

Over 50 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured when Indian troops opened fire on peaceful protesters in the Gaw Kadal area of Srinagar on January 21, 1990.  All major roads and streets in Srinagar are particularly dotted with the presence of Indian Army, police, and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel, while armored mobile vehicles patrol the city to monitor the activities of the locals.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)