SRINAGAR, Aug 15 (Online): Life was paralyzed all across occupied Kashmir today due to crippling strike, marking observance of Indian Independence Day as Black Day.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the call for the strike and observance of the Black Day was given by the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, senior Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Gilani, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik and President of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah.
All shops, bazars and business establishments remained closed and transport was off the road. All deserted cities and towns in the Valley, Jammu and Ladakh regions gave an eerie look. Only menacing presence of the patrolling troops was in evidence .
The Black Day was intended to attract world attention to the plight of Kashmiris due to Indian state-terrorism and to the imperative need of resolving Kashmir issue, to the satisfaction of Kashmiri people .
The troops have swarmed the Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar, venue of the official function. Iqbal Park, adjacent to the stadium, which is usually crowded, was closed for public for the past one week. Sharp shooters were deployed on high-rise buildings at Iqbal Park market and several localities of Srinagar. Almost all parts of Jammu region were put under military siege.
Despite extraordinary security measures, around Srinagar, two powerful explosions occurred outside the city's main Bakhshi Stadium, the venue of official function of Indian Independence Day, this morning. Three Indian army soldiers were injured in the blasts. A massive bomb explosion near the venue of India's main independence day function in Srinagar triggered tension and panic in the city .
Police said a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a flowerbed inside Iqbal park near the main entrance to the Bakshi stadium, the venue for the celebrations .
"It was an IED fitted with a time device and it exploded without causing any injuries. Members of the bomb disposal squad searched the park area with mine detectors to sanitise it before the arrival of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed," a police officer told IANS.
There were splinters and earth scattered around the main entrance used by Sayeed, other ministers and top officials to enter the stadium 45 minutes after the blast .
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. A massive bomb explosion near the venue of India's main independence day function in Srinagar, Indian Held Kashmir Monday triggered tension and panic in the city .
Police said a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a flowerbed inside Iqbal park near the main entrance to the Bakshi stadium, the venue for the celebrations .
"It was an IED fitted with a time device and it exploded without causing any injuries. Members of the bomb disposal squad searched the park area with mine detectors to sanities it before the arrival of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed," a police officer told IANS.
There were splinters and earth scattered around the main entrance used by Sayeed, other ministers and top officials to enter the stadium 45 minutes after the blast .
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack .
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