SRINAGAR: On the 171st consecutive day on Wednesday, the curfew and communications blockade in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) continues to be cut off from the rest of the world.
There is a shortage of food and medicines, while heavy snowfall has multiplied the miseries of the helpless Kashmiri people. Since August 5, by revoking the special status of occupied Kashmir, the Indian government has put a curfew in IoK.
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Restrictions under section 144 and total ban on internet and prepaid mobile services remain enforced. Public transportation is off the roads.
Shops and business centers are still closed for a couple of hours in the morning and evening. Though there are still very few educational institutions and offices open up there.
Normal life remains disabled in the IoK and parts of the occupied valley. Shops and business establishments remain closed most of the time except for a few hours in the morning and evening.
The authorities have also appointed magistrates to track students ‘ activities in educational institutions throughout occupied Kashmir.
On the other hand, disputed Kashmir was formally divided into two union territories on October 31 against the wishes of the people of the region and in violation of international laws and India’s own constitution.
Earlier, India’s Supreme Court rejected appeals on Wednesday to postpone the enforcement of new citizenship law, ruling that a five-judge constitutional bench was needed to hear all the legal challenges which critics said discriminate against Muslims.
The Indian Supreme court provided four weeks for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government to react to 144 petitions challenging the constitutional applicability of the law that has sparked protests across the country.
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The citizenship act, which came into force on January 10 after being passed by the parliament in December, sets out a path for nationality for six religious minorities mostly in Muslim neighboring countries Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
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