Scores of men, women and youths on Friday from Kunan-Poshpora marched towards Trehgam town in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.Local reports coming here said that Trehgam town was under siege by forces since Friday dawn in anticipation of wide spread pro-freedomprotests.Kashmir is under strict curfew today following killing of 40 civilians by forces since last Saturday during protests which erupted after militant commander Burhan Wani was killed along with his two associates by forces in Kokernag area of South Kashmir.
“We have not been allowed to move out of our homes since morning,” locals said, “we offeredJuma Namaz in local Masjids as we were not allowed to move towards main Jamia Masjid. Only a few have offered Juma Namaz in Main Masjid today.”
The locals took out a protest march after congregational Friday prayers. “After people raised pro-freedom slogans, forces deployed in huge numbers resorted to tear gas shelling,” locals said.“Meanwhile, people from Kunan-Poshpora came to break the siege around Trehgam,” the locals said, “but forces are not allowing them to enter the town.” Trehgam is home town of Kashmiri nationalist leader Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in Tihar jail New Delhi in 1984 and his body lays buried in the same jail.