Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world observed Indian Republic Day, on January 26, as Black Day. Observance of the day was aimed at conveying the international community that India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination was contrary to its claim of being a democratic republic.
In Occupied Kashmir, all business establishments, government and private offices, banks and courts remained closed while traffic was off the road. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were patrolling the streets and all the roads leading to Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar, where the main Republic Day function was held, were sealed. It happened for the first time during the last twenty years that due to the apprehension of the public resistance, Indian authorities desisted from hoisting Indian flag on the Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
The APHC-AJK chapter organized a demonstration in front of the United Nations Observers’ Office in Islamabad, which was led by the Convener, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar. On the occasion a memorandum presented to the UN Office urged the United Nations to help stop Indian atrocities against the innocent people of the occupied territory. In Muzaffarabad, a big procession was taken out, which marched through different streets of the city. Kashmiri leaders expressed the hope that the Kashmir liberation movement was destined to succeed.
In Brussels, a big demonstration was staged outside the Indian High Commission, which was led by the Chairman of Kashmir Centre, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo.
In London, Kashmiris and the sympathisers of Kashmir liberation movement held a protest demonstration in front of the Indian High Commission to mark the Indian Republic Day as Black Day. The demonstration was led by the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl. A memorandum presented to the commission on the occasion denounced Indian state terrorism in Occupied Kashmir.
The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in a statement from Washington in connection with Indian Republic Day reiterated that Kashmir holds the infamy as the most dangerous place on the planet as the 63¬years-old dispute is the bone of contention between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours, Pakistan and India. He deplored that Indian troops were committing the worst kind of war crimes in occupied Kashmir with impunity under the protection of draconian laws. “Indian troops kill civilians with impunity. Rape and torture are routinely practiced but their perpetrators never punished,” he said.
Developments During “January” Towards the “Kashmir Issue Which has been Accepted by the Global Strategists as Nuclear Flash Point” of the World
- Adam Thompson, the designated British High Commissioner to Pakistan, has said that “UK is ready to mediate on Kashmir if Pakistan and India deem it fit..
- Malaysia has urged India and Pakistan to settle the Kashmir dispute bilaterally through peaceful process of negotiations.
- Norwegian Parliament nominates “Knut Arild Hereide” as the chairman of the Kashmir Parliamentary Group to monitor the situation in Kashmir.
- Yawar, a Kashmiri youth was injured by a tear gas shell, fired by Indian police. He has virtually been paralyzed due to this shell injury.
- Amman Farooq, a journalist, was fired upon by Indian forces for projecting the ground realities of the occupied territory to the world.
- Indian troops martyred 22 Kashmiris including 3 teenaged boys. These killings rendered seven women widowed and fifteen children orphaned.
- Indian troops tortured 277 persons and injured most of them critically by using tear gas shelling and bullets on peaceful demonstrators.
- Indian troops arrested 41 people, mostly youth.
- The troops also damaged nine residential structures including houses and shops with heavy mortar shelling during siege and search operations.