Amid strict curfew measures and flag-hoisting attempts by one of India’s main political parties, Kashmiri people have observed India’s Republic Day as a black day.
The Indian government deployed thousands of extra troops and imposed a round-the-clock curfew in a bid to contain the violent demonstrations, as Kashmiri leaders planned to stage nationwide protests against New Delhi’s rule in the disputed Himalayan region.
However, thousands of anti-India protesters led by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik marched towards a landmark in Srinagar in defiance of the curfew.
Indian troops made several arrests after angry protesters attempted to hoist Kashmir’s flag at major locations across the city.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s second-largest political party, also urged thousands of Hindu extremists to march towards Kashmir.
The key political leaders in Kashmir denounced the moves as “provocative” and urged India to end its prejudice against the people of Kashmir.
The developments come as India is celebrating its 62nd Republic Day under heavy security. On January 26, New Delhi honors the memory of the time when the Constitution of India came into effect in 1930.
The Republic Day Parade takes place in capital New Delhi, where the president views the parade.
State capitals also have their own celebrations. Security has been tightened in and around sensitive areas across India.
Around 35,000 police personnel, including 15,000 members of the paramilitary forces and elite National Security Guard have been deployed in New Delhi for the event.
In Kashmir, last year was marked by waves of prolonged unrest and violence. The disputed region’s economy suffered severely as a result of last year’s general strikes and anti-government protests.
The developments come at a time when violence continues to wreak havoc in the troubled valley.
Kashmir is one of the world’s most militarized areas and roughly half-a-million Indian forces are stationed across the valley.
The region has been gripped by a string of violent protests since last year, when a teenager was killed by police. More than 110 people have so far been killed in the unrest.
The Kashmir valley has either been under curfew or shut down over the past four months. Residents have been complaining about the shortage of food, medicine and other supplies.
Thousands have been killed in the volatile Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989.
Several regional and international rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called on India to take immediate steps to protect and respect human rights in Kashmir.
Source: Press TV