Snowfall in Occupied Kashmir adds to the miseries of people

In occupied Kashmir, normal life continues to remain badly affected in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu and Ladakh regions as unprecedented and inhuman lockdown entered 132nd consecutive day, today.

The increasing chill after fresh rains and snowfall has added to the miseries of the people of Occupied Kashmir who have been already suffering immensely due to strict military siege since August 5.

Due to continued lockdown, people could not stock essential commodities for the harsh winter – an age-old practice as Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the only surface link of the territory remains closed for most of the season.

Restrictions under Section 144 remain enforced and hundreds of thousands of Indian forces’ personnel are present in every nook and corner of occupied Kashmir, adding to the fear and anxiety of the people.

Barring partial restoration of landline and postpaid cellular phones, communications links including internet and prepaid mobile connections remain totally snapped in the entire Valley and Muslim-majority areas of Jammu region.

People in the valley are observing mass civil disobedience to show their strong resentment to India’s brutal occupation, especially its August 5 illegal measures.

In this regard, shops continue to remain shut most of the time except for few hours in the day and hardly any public transport is seen on the roads.

Schools and offices are open but few turn up there. However, some private transport is plying and roadside vendors are doing their businesses to make their both ends meet.

Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were massacred by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian Army and Hindu fanatics affiliated with RSS and other communal organizations in different parts of Jammu region while they were migrating to Pakistan during the first week of November in 1947.

The ban on internet, text messaging and prepaid mobile connections is still in place and the restoration of some communications restrictions, such as landline phones and postpaid mobile services, could not provide any respite to the people.