Kashmir observes ‘Black Day’

 Normal life was affected on Saturday across the Kashmir valley following a shutdown called by pro-resistance politicians and militant groups to protest the landing of Indian troops on the day in 1947. Both faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference had appealed to people to observe a black day today in order to attract international attention towards Kashmir dispute.
The Indian Army first arrived in the Kashmir valley on Oct 27, 1947 at the invitation of the then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, then a princely state.
Around 300 youth gathered near the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and resorted to stone pelting. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the mob. The clash lasted for several hours in which three protestors and two policemen were injured.
Shops and business establishments in the city remained closed although skeletal traffic plied on the roads. The effect of the call in the Shahar-e-Khas was more than the uptown localities of Srinagar.
Hurriyat (M) staged a sit in silent protest for two hours at the Pratap Park in Lal Chowk to mark their protest against the “forcible occupation” by Indian troops. Shahid-ul-Islam spokesman of the moderate faction led the protest along with dozens of other workers.
Small groups of protesters gathered in the old city areas of Srinagar and pelted stones on passing vehicles. In some areas the small protest demonstrations were held which were chased away by the police.
The educational institutions remained closed, while thin attendance was registered in banks and government offices.
Protest demonstrations were also held in Pakistan administered Kashmir and in Rawlapindi where APHC activists presented a memorandum to UNMOGIP