In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, occupation troops in their latest act of state terrorism, martyred five Kashmiri youth in Kulgam district today.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the youth were killed during a cordon-and-search operation in the district.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has strongly condemned the killings.

In a statement, APHC spokesman paid tribute to the victims and demanded that their bodies be returned to their families for proper burial.  

Meanwhile, illegally detained APHC Chairman Masarat Alam Butt, in a message from New Delhi's Tihar Jail, strongly condemned the repressive policies of Indian government in the illegally occupied territory.  

Calling for urgent international intervention, Masarat Alam Butt urged the United Nations and human rights organizations to press India to end its crackdown and resolve the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people.

On the other hand, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned of devastating consequences due to the proposed 28 percent tax on Kashmiri hand-made shawls.

The Chamber noted that this tax will financially jeopardize over three hundred thousand artisans, as this industry is IIOJK's cultural and economic backbone.