Meanwhile, people have been facing an acute shortage of essential commodities, including medicines, due to the curfew. Shops, businesses, banks, private and government offices remained closed.
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Pakistan and India each administer part of Kashmir but both claim the region entirely.
At an all-party meeting on Sunday, Modi welcomed remarks by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, who said no issue was more topical today than that of Kashmir.
Calling it an “attack” on the freedom of the press, Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has protested the alleged “clampdown” on the media in Kashmir Valley and demanded that it be allowed to function unhindered. “Every aspect of life, whether it’s joyous or otherwise, is sort of diverted through the military”, Indian author and activist, Arundhati Roy, who has previously been arrested in India for her comments on Kashmir, said on Democracy Now!.
The largest street protests in recent years in India’s portion of Kashmir erupted last week after Indian troops killed the popular young leader of the largest rebel group fighting against Indian rule in the region. On Saturday, local newspapers suspended publication for three days following raids on printing presses.
Two people, including a woman, were killed late Monday after soldiers fired at rock-throwing protesters in southern Qazigund area, said the officer speaking on a customary condition of anonymity.
Internet connectivity on all mobile phones remained suspended for the ninth day in the Valley on Wednesday. The detained workers have since been freed.
When a senior cabinet minister and government spokesperson in no ambiguous terms tells editors of Srinagar-based dailies to shut, the decision to gag the media amid heightened security restrictions in the Kashmir Valley can not be “local”.
He hoped these black days of oppression will soon come to an end and as per the law of nature, tyrants and oppressors will lose and the last victory will belong to those oppressed. State security forces have responded by firing pellet guns, teargas, and live ammunition.
In an earlier report, published by the official news agency, Xinhua, it said: “China on Monday called for proper settlement of clashes in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which have left more than 40 people dead”.
Close to 5,000 CRPF personnel will soon be guarding the streets of Kashmir, after the Government rushed a further 2,000 troops to the violence-hit Valley. One of the wounded is said to be critical.
He also said, keeping in view the prevailing situation, the government had extended summer vacations in all education institutions till July 25. “The people stand firmly behind the security forces and the Army”, the Congress said in a statement.
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A youth suffered pellet injury during a protest this evening in Rainawari area here. Many need multiple operations.
