According to a press release issued by Jammu Kashmir by Awami Itihad Party (AIP) , despite heavy police and other restrictions, AIP workers carried out a strong protest march against PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir.Hundreds of party activists surfaced near many localities in Srinagar including Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar and adjoining areas and started shouting anti-Modi slogans. The protesters were carrying black flags and banners.
They broke police cordon and freed party supremo and MLA Langate Engineer Rashid from house detention and started marching towards Lal-Chowk amid heavy slogans. People in huge numbers including men and women came out of their houses from various localities and despite police restrictions managed to join the protest march.
The protestors gave a tough resistance to police and CRPF for about an hour and raised slogans like “GO MODI GO BACK” , “HAY HAQ HAMARA RAI SHUMARI” , “MUFTI MODI NAMANZOOR” AND “JIS KASHMIR KO KHOON SAY SEENCHA WOH KASHMIR HAMARA HAY.”In a first of its kind protestors blowed about 2,000 black balloons in the air, carrying black flags and slogans as a mark of protest.However the protestors were dispersed by police by using force, leaving three party workers injured. They including Hajji Mohammad Yusuf of Shopian were rushed to SMHS Hospital where Mr Yusuf who had got severe injuries was admitted. Police arrested more than two dozen party activists including Er Rashid, Adv. Mohammad Amin and others and lodged them in police station Raj Bagh. During the police action even clothes of MLA Langate Er Rashid, Khursheed Ahmad Dar and others were torn out by the police. Party spokesman has termed the protest as an eye opener for New Delhi and the moral victory of Kashmiris.