Kashmiris observing Black Day on Indian Republic Day

Pro-independence leaders of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and other leaders and liberation groups had given call for observance of black day in the region.

The day is being marked with a complete strike in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

Indian troops and police personnel were deployed in all major towns of the occupied territory to prevent people from staging anti-India protests.

Himalyan territory Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but both claimed the region in its entirety.

Since 1989, more than 68,000 people have been killed in the armed insurgency in the region.

Though incidents of violence have largely been suppressed by Indian forces, public opposition to Indian rule remains widespread in the mostly Muslim territory and is now mainly expressed through street protests.