Resistance leaders, activists protest against civilian killings
Srinagar, July 9: (GNS) The joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Monday said the blood spilled by “Indian forces” in Valley is intended to crush Kashmiri resistance.
A statement issued to GNS said that on the call of JRL, the resistance leaders and activist staged a peaceful protest against the killing of civilians Andaleeb, Shakir Ahmad Khanday and Irshad Ahmad at Redwani, Kulgam on July 7.
The protesters, holding placards depicting photographs of those killed, raised anti-India slogans and marched towards Lal Chowk where government forces cordoned the area and sealed the way leading towards city centre, the statement said.
“When protesters tried to cross these barricades, police used excessive force and arrested various leaders and activists including Advocate Bashir Ahmed Butt, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Umar Adil Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmed Shah, Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri, Abdul Rashid Lone,Syed Imtiyaz Haider, Farooq Ahmed Sodagar, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmed Dar, Mohammad Maqbool Tiploo, Basharat Ahmed Butt,” the statement added.
The peaceful protest was addressed by various leaders including Advocate Bashir Ahmad Butt, Ghulam Nabi Zaki and Umar Adil Dar who strongly condemned the “ongoing massacres” in Kashmir especially south Kashmir.
The speakers while condemning the continued arrest of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and others and house arrest of Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said that leaders like Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi are still in police custody.
Meanwhile, Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik said that “Indian trigger-happy forces and are deployed to kill Kashmiris as they enjoy immunity from prosecution”.
“This is a consequence of the immunity provided to them by pro-India Kashmiri politicians, assembly, parliament and Panchayat members, their parties who legislate and implement laws like AFSPA to shelter these criminals and their crimes,” the leaders said.
“We want to ask the international community that isn’t the blood of innocent 15-year-Andaleeb enough to awaken their conscience. Aren’t Kashmiris a part of humanity and doesn’t they also have human rights which need to be protected?” the JRL said. (GNS)
