India puts IOK in lockdown after Pulwama massacre

Mirwaiz, Yasin Malik arrested for defying curfew in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Indian authorities imposed a total curfew in parts of Srinagar and locked down several parts of occupied region on Monday as police fired tear gas at protesters defying a curfew to march against the shooting death of 11 civilians in Pulwama at the weekend.

Police and Indian para-military forces put up barricades in various parts of Srinagar and patrolled in force to prevent a march towards the Indian army headquarters in Badami Bagh area. Authorities had also shut down mobile, internet and train services.

The call for the march was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, against the killings by Indian troops in Pulwama district at the weekend.

On Saturday, the Indian troops killed as many as 11 Kashmiri youth during a cordon and search operation and firing of live ammunition on protesters in the Kharpora Sirnoo area of Pulwama. The Indian army, in a statement late on Sunday, warned the people against protesting.

The JRL planned to march towards an Indian army headquarters on Monday but its leaders said they had been put under house arrest. Police fired tear gas to drive back dozens of protesters who tried to reach the base. Businesses and schools across the occupied territory were closed for a third straight day.

According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the Mirwaiz was arrested after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Badami Bagh. As he came out of his Nigeen residence, a police contingent deployed near his house thwarted the march and detained him and his supporters.

Yasin Malik, chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who had gone underground to evade arrest, was also detained when he took out the march from Gaw Kadal area of Srinagar along with his supporters. As he reached Budshah Bridge, police arrested him along with many of his supporters.

Islamic political Party Chairman Mohammad Yusuf Naqash was also arrested by police on Sunday evening. "Naqash was arrested from his residence, and lodged in Safakadal Police station," his party said in statement.

Saturday's massacre of Kashmiri civilians has also drawn international anger. Pakistan also condemned the killings. "Only dialogue and not violence and killings will resolve this conflict," Prime Minister Imran Khan said, adding that Islamabad would raise India's "human rights violations" at the United Nations.

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the killing of innocent Kashmiris. According to a press release on Monday, the OIC General Secretariat called upon the international community to play its role in order to reach a just and lasting solution to the conflict.

The General Secretariat, the statement said, also expressed condolences to the families of the innocent victims who had lost their lives as a result of this wicked terrorist act and wished the wounded prompt recovery.

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, has called for investigation prosecution of those responsible for "indiscriminate use of force". "Security forces are aware that villagers gather, protest and have responsibility to ensure civilians are not at risk," she tweeted.

In Azad Kashmir, the genocide of over more innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in Palwama district was strongly condemned with a call to the United Nations and the international community to play their role in securing the lives and properties of the people of the Indian occupied Kashmir.

Hundreds of people thronged in various parts of the liberated territory on Monday and held a protest march. In Mirpur, the marchers passed through various streets condemning the continued Indian brutalities and massive human rights' violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.

The banners carried by protestors stated, "United Nations must take stern notice on massacre of innocent civilians in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir". The protestors demanded of the UN and International Human rights organisations to help stop human rights' violations in Occupied Kashmir.