By News Agency of Kashmir,
Srinagar : Tens of thousands people across Kashmir today marched towards the United Nation Office, here on Monday, urging the international community to intervene so as to find a permanent solution to Kashmir issue.
People in large number came on roads and marched towards the office of United Nations Military Observers’ Group (UNMOG). Led by the representatives of co-ordination committee and other separatist groups the protestors were raising anti India and pro-freedom slogans.
Sources said that the Hurriet leaders were asked by the authorities to march towards the UN office only with limited number of supporters so as to avoid any further clash.
“Despite this tens of thousands of people led by their leaders assembled at Tourist centre, Polo ground and Partap Park”, sources told News Agency of Kashmir.
The rally was organized by all party coordination committee – designated for the purpose and supported by various separatist groups.
People in buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles accompanied their leaders of coordination committee and Hurriet Conference. “There was sea of people flowing on the rods of Kashmir today”, one of the eyewitnesses said.
According to sources the people who participated in tens of thousands irrespective of their political affiliation in trucks and busses reached Srinagar from across Kashmir so as to participate in the rally.
All the leaders representing their areas submitted their memorandums at a local office of United Nations Military Observers Group at Sonawar in the summer capital of the state.
The memorandum, submitted by Separatist Coordination Committee, asked international bodies to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. “We appealed to UN security General to ask India to give the people of the state the ‘right to self determination’ and stop use of force and killing of innocent people who peacefully demand freedom”, a member of newly framed co-ordination committees said.
Organizers believed that this was the largest procession of recent times in Valley, where people participated in large number irrespective of their political affiliation.
“I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar,” said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper of north Kashmir who was taking part in the procession.
“I couldn’t resist coming out to demand freedom from India,” he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard, “If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?”
The marchers included men, women and children, who chanted slogans including “We want freedom” and “We will give blood for Kashmir’s freedom.”
Many also carried green and black flags-symbolizing Islam and mourning were seen in hands of the people including children.
Separatist leader Shabir Shah said the demonstrators planned to deliver a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week’s shootings of “peaceful protesters. While Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, urges the UN “to intervene and help Kashmiri’s in achieving the right to self-determination.”
UNMOGIP, one of the oldest U.N. missions, monitors a 1949 ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, entire north Kashmir including Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Sopore, and Uri observed complete shutdown with thousands of people board in buses, trucks and other vehicles headed towards Srinagar to participate in the march to UN office.