Kashmiris to boycott sham polls today

17 Nov, 2008

In occupied Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Co-ordination Committee has appealed people to totally boycott the farcical polls, first phase of which is going to be held on Monday (today) in ten constituencies of Bandipora, Ladakh and Poonch districts.
A meeting of the Committee was held on Sunday, at the Mirwaiz Manzil in Srinagar and presided over by Mian Abdul Qayoom. Talking to media men after the meeting, Qayoom maintained that the holding of polls in the occupied territory was intended to sabotage the ongoing liberation struggle. He urged people to assemble at Jamia Masjid, Dargah Hazratbal, Dastgeer Sahib Sara-i-Bala and Gaw kadal in Srinagar and in grand mosques in other town tomorrow morning to proceed towards Bandipora.
The occupation authorities continued to keep the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Hurriyet leaders, Maulana Abbas Ansari and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi under house arrest.
Mirwaiz and senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani appealed Kashmiri people to massively march towards Bandipora to reaffirm that they rejected holding of sham polls and their sacrifices were intended to secure inalienable right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, Indian troops attacked the office of an APHC constituent party in Chaanapora area of Srinagar, ransacked it arresting over six Hurriyet leaders and activists after subjecting them to severe torture. Three of them were critically injured. They had to lead Bandipora March from Srinagar on Monday.
On the other hand, Indian troops have sealed Bandipora and its adjacent areas ahead of the polls drama. Barging into the houses, they have warned the residents of dire consequences, if they did not participate in the polls.

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