In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani has urged the people to boycott the third phase of Indian parliamentary elections in Islamabad constituency, to be held on Tuesday.

In a statement in Srinagar today (Sunday), he also called for a complete strike in the poll-bound areas of the constituency on the day.

The boycott is aimed at conveying a strong message to the world that election drama being staged in the territory by India could not be an alternative to the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

While expressing his concern over the unabated use of detention, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai said the authorities imprison Kashmiris and prolong their detention for political beliefs.

He said all the methods of coercion, oppression and arm twisting are being used to crush the people’s resistance.

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai said India is in breach of its international obligations despite being signatory to the Geneva Convention on political prisoners.

Hurriayt leaders Shabbir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Iqbal Mir, Imtiyaz Ahmed Reshi, Ghulam Nabi Wasim, Ghulam Nabi War and Mir Shahid Saleem in their statements expressed growing concern over the deteriorating health of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik in Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail.  

Meanwhile, Kashmir Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Movement in their separate statements termed the India’s decision to suspend trade across the Line of Control in Kashmir as a direct attack on Kashmir’s economy.

They said that the decision would leave thousands of people associated with the trade high and dry.

On the other hand, body of a second-year student was recovered under mysterious conditions from Astanapora area of Rawalpora in Srinagar, today.

A police officer confirmed the incident and identified the deceased student as Umar Ahmad Butt.