In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian forces have launched a massive crackdown across the occupied territory in the name of ensuring security on India’s Independence Day, the 15th August.

The Indian forces’ personnel are conducting house raids and cordon and search operations subjecting the people to severe harassment.

The troops and police have arrested dozens of youth during these operations and summoned hundreds of others to police stations and army camps.

Checkpoints have been set up on almost every road where vehicles are being searched and commuters frisked.

The residents of many areas maintained that India’s Independence Day always brings more miseries to them.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders and other pro-freedom organizations have paid glowing tributes to prominent martyred Hurriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, on his 15th martyrdom anniversary, today.

Indian troops had martyred Sheikh Abdul Aziz on this day in 2008 when he was leading a big march from Srinagar to the Line of Control against the economic blockade of the Kashmir Valley by Hindu extremists of Jammu.

The APHC leaders and organizations in their statements said that Sheikh Aziz preferred martyrdom but never bowed before the oppressor India.

They reaffirmed the Kashmiris’ resolve to accomplish the mission of their martyrs at all costs.

Meanwhile, speakers at a seminar organized by the APHC-AJK chapter at the Kashmir House in Islamabad maintained that the Kashmiri people will not allow the sacrifices of Sheikh Aziz and other martyrs to go waste and will continue their struggle till Kashmir’s freedom from Indian subjugation.

A rally was held in Muzaffarabad to pay homage to Sheikh Aziz. A large number of people attended the rally organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Young Men’s League.