By Sourav Sahoo for Youth Ki Awaaz:
Thousands of people came out in a rally in Kolkata on July 14 to condemn the ongoing violence in the Kashmir valley. Human rights activists, various students’ organizations, civil society groups as well as ordinary citizens of the city joined the rally. Even some school students could be seen. Slogans like “Kashmir maange azaadi” and “Manipur maange azaadi” were raised in the rally. There were also solidarity messages on posters from the Bastar Solidarity Network (BSN).
Protesters also demanded AFSPA free Kashmir and Manipur, meaning that the heavy deployment of armed forces in the two states be removed and the impunity they enjoy under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act be revoked.
A protester said that after the announcement of the rally, the protestors had received a number of threats from groups of right-wing people . There was also a call for a ”direct action day” by them and they assembled at College Street, where the protestors too had gathered. Due to a heavy deployment of the police force, the protest site remained nonviolent and the protesters marched from College Square to Sealdah station, although the police did not give the permission to march on the pre-decided route. Rallies are usually held in Kolkata from College Street to Shyambazar, which was also the pre-decided route for this protest.
Chanting “stand with Kashmir”, “stop the killing”, and “demilitarise Kashmir”, the protesters also carried placards bearing the names of those killed during the unrest that has engulfed the Kashmir Valley after the death of the militant commander Burhan Wani.
Photos from the protest:
Also Read: “I Don’t Hate India. I Hate India’s Policies”: Delhi Citizens Protest Kashmir Killings
The post In Photos: People In Kolkata March For Kashmir, Get Threats From Right Wing Groups appeared first and originally on Youth Ki Awaaz, an award-winning online platform that serves as the hub of thoughtful opinions and reportage on the world's most pressing issues, as witnessed by the current generation. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out more.