Clashes have erupted in Indian-occupied Kashmir, as a delegation of mostly far-right members of the European Parliament paid a contentious visit to the Muslim-majority region stripped of its autonomy in August.
The European Parliament members are the first foreign delegation to visit the besieged Valley since New Delhi revoked the region’s autonomy on August 5. It is, however, not an official delegation from the European Union.
The Chairman of Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU), Ali Raza Syed, has said that by inviting a selected group of members of European lawmakers to occupied Kashmir, Indian authorities tried to mislead the world about the worse situation of the territory.
He said that India had created an environment of fear in occupied Kashmir as the curfew confined the people to their homes and economy of the valley had been destroyed and future of youth specially students had been put at stake. Even people are also facing shortage of food and life-saving medicines, he added.
The KCEU Chairman said, “We have already written to the higher European authorities including President European Council and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy regarding the grave situation in Jammu and Kashmir asking them to impress upon India to end curfew and restore the basic rights of the people of Kashmir.”
With a curfew and communication blockade entered in 87th day in many parts of the main city, Srinagar, police fired tear gas and shotgun pellets as about 40 clashes flared across the Kashmir Valley, officials said.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu region continues to remain badly affected due to military clampdown and blanket internet ban on the 87th consecutive day.
Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred a Kashmiri youth in Islamabad district of IoK .
The troops martyred the youth in a fake encounter during a cordon and search operation in Bijbehara area of the district.
On the other hand, Indian troops resorted to indiscriminate firing after an army bunker was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Drubgam area of Pulwama district. The troops cordoned off the area and launched searches to nab the attackers.
