Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, despite curfew, forceful demonstrations were held in Kishtwar town after Indian police conducted nocturnal raids to the arrest people for protesting against the civilian killings by Indian forces in the Kashmir Valley.
The police raided various places in Kishtwar, the other night, to arrest those who raised their voice against the killing spree unleashed by Indian police and troops in the Valley and participated in pro-freedom demonstrations. People staged forceful protests against the raids. At least six persons were injured due to the use of brute force by the police on the protesters.
During the fresh raids, several people including a government employee, Ajaz Ahmed Kelam of Fareedia Mohallah, was arrested. Kelam, who works with Sheep Husbandry Department, has been charged with sedition and instigating youth to participate in anti-India protests. The police raids were aimed at arresting Qari Manzoor Ganai, imam of Bunastan Masjid, who gave a raiding police team a slip on Saturday night. Two others, Abdul Qayoom Baghwan and Saif-ud-Din Baghwan, were arrested during the raid, booked under draconian Public Safety Act and sent to Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu.
The authorities had imposed curfew in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Doda districts on Sunday to stop people from holding protests against the arrests and police highhandedness.
Meanwhile, Muslims observed complete shutdown in Bhaderwah and Doda districts against the arrest of three people, including two imams, and against the imposition of curfew. Shops, other business establishments and some private schools of the Muslim community remained closed. The shutdown call was issued by Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah and Markazi Seerat Committee Doda against the arrest of people and raids in Kishtwar at the behest of some RSS-backed politicians and bureaucrats. The shutdown was also aimed at expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir Valley who were being constantly subjected to the worst kind of brutalities since the extrajudicial murder of noted freedom fighter, Burhan Wani, on July 8, this year.
