SRINAGAR: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and in different parts of the world will observe India’s Republic Day on January 26 as Black Day, aiming to draw international attention to what they describe as the continued denial of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the call has been issued by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. As part of the observance, a complete shutdown will be held in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, while protest rallies and demonstrations are planned in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan and various world capitals.
The purpose of the protests is to convey that Kashmiris do not recognise India’s authority over the territory and reject the celebration of Republic Day in the region, which they view as a symbol of political disenfranchisement.
Each year, January 26 is accompanied by heightened security measures in the occupied territory. This year, Indian forces have once again intensified checking and frisking operations across the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.
All major roads leading to venues hosting official Republic Day functions have been sealed with barbed wire, while aerial surveillance using drones has been deployed to monitor movement. Indian paramilitary troops and police personnel, assisted by sniffer dogs, are carrying out surprise vehicle inspections and identity checks at entry and exit points in Srinagar and other towns.
Residents say the recurring security clampdown disrupts daily life and reinforces an atmosphere of fear, as normal activities come to a halt under heavy restrictions ahead of the Indian national event.
