Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounced what he termed as “use of savage force” against students, terming it as ‘worst form of state terrorism.’
Various pro-freedom parties have condemned forces’ action on protesting students in various districts of Kashmir saying “student community was being targeted to create psychosis and break their resolve for right to self-determination.”
Expressing concern over increasing use of “repressive measures” by the armed forces against civilians and student community, the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, in a statement today, said, “Kashmiri people are facing state terrorism.”
“As far as the ground situation is concerned, there is simmering lava against state terrorism and excesses perpetrated by the government, army and local police. We won’t tolerate this and will resent if not stopped forthwith. Our students’ career is at risk and this is unbearable.”
Referring to Pulwama incident, Geelani said, “The forces laid a naka outside college and without any reason entered college premises, thrashed and injured many.”
Hailing student community, Geelani said, “It is encouraging that they in solidarity with their brethren staged peaceful protest, however forces and police resorted to brute force against them in which scores including girl students received injuries.”
Lashing out at forces and police, Geelani said, “They unnecessarily target student community and use brute force. They should note that people in state are pursuing their right to self-determination and there is no justification for bullying and highhandedness.”
Geelani asked New Delhi to stop their “callous approach”, saying instead of employing “repressive and coercive measures” against people’, they need to address the core issue and take steps for its lasting solution.
“New Delhi is hell-bent to create disturbances to break our economical and education sectors. We are keeping a close eye on the situation and will take requiring measures to check these conspiracies,” he said.
Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounced what he termed as “use of savage force” against students, terming it as ‘worst form of state terrorism.’
Reacting to the widespread protests across various educational institutions across Kashmir by the students against assault on their counterparts in Pulwama, Mirwaiz said that “barbaric raj of Indian forces and police was prevalent in Kashmir to the extent that troopers and police did not even spare protesting students as they forcibly barged into their educational institutions and fired tear gas canisters, showered pellets, and ruthlessly tortured them which was amply displayed in every nook and corner of the valleys educational institutions, as if seeking revenge from the students.”
Mirwaiz said that “the anguish of the students is understandable given the repression and barbarity of the state that they are witnessing around them.”
He however, asked the students to be cautious and take care of themselves “as no restraint or disciplined response can be expected from the unbridled Indian forces and the police in dealing with them as they have been given a free hand to kill and maim Kashmiris under any pretext.”
“The state will justify the barbarity of its forces through its prejudiced media by labeling them as “antinational” and justify assaulting and punishing them accordingly before their nation and the world,” he added.
Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Muhammad Yasin Malik also condemned action on students saying “Police, SOG and CRPF along with Indian army crossed every limit of brutality at Pulwama Degree College and dozens of girl and boy students were injured by police. Highhandedness of Police and army was evident through various videos on social media.”
“Today Kashmiri students across the valley with one voice staged peaceful protest against this brutality and at various places the oppressive attitude was repeated against unarmed peaceful students. Attacks on colleges and schools and brutalizing students is not acceptable to any civilized society and today’s peaceful protest by students of Kashmir is a genuine, legal and democratic protest and stopping it by police might cannot be termed but as clear state terrorism.”
Malik said that “choking every little space on peaceful protests and banning every peaceful activity is ‘undemocratic’ in every way and today what has transpired at every college and school is ‘a glaring example of police highhandedness and suppression.”
Chairman Tehreek-e-Mazahmat Bilal Sidiqee condemned use of force against students saying “police and forces are responsible for deteriorating situation in state.” “Showering pellets and bullets against student community is unacceptable,” he said.
Condemning the use of force against students across Kashmir, the senior Hurriyat (G) leader and Jammu Kashmir National Front chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan, in a statement today, said, “New Delhi should realise that Kashmiris are united and demand freedom from India in one voice.” Khan praised the student community for their valour and resolve.
“Freedom is not so far when young generation is so determined. Today’s student protest against the atrocities is a clear message to India that freedom struggle has transferred successfully to the younger generation that will not accept any kind of atrocities,” Khan said.
Terming the use of excessive force on students as unacceptable, the incarcerated chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah on Monday said “New Delhi through such suppressive tactics cannot hold its forcible occupation of J&K.”
Chairman JKLF (H) Javaid Ahmad Mir while condemning the forces action saying “present government is fulfilling the aims of RSS in the Kashmir.”
Democratic Liberation Party (DLP) chairman, Hashim Qureshi said “it is unfortunate that the students are assaulted and thrashed for raising their voice in solidarity with their colleagues. He also expressed sympathy with the students who were injured.
Castigating government for using force against the protesting students, the senior Hurriyat (G) leader and president Anjuman Shari Shian Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi Alsafvi, in a statement today, said, “After facing humiliation in recent parliament elections, India has now pursued a brute oppressive policies to subdue people of Kashmir.”
Employees’ Joint Action Committee (EJAC) president and Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani condemned “the brutal actions of security forces in Government Degree Colloge, Pulwama.” Terming the forces’ action as “inhuman, unjustified and unconstitutional”, Wani, in a statement today, demanded immediate probe into the incident and punishment to the erring personnel. He also asked the authorities to ensure full safety and security of educational institutions.
Kashmir University Teachers’ Association strongly condemned use of force on students in college campuses. “Entering of forces into academic campuses is “sheer provocation that only triggers hostile situations.” KUTA spokesperson said.
Condemning the use of force against students, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Srinagar Monday appealed to all Human Rights Organizations of the World, more particularly, the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICJ) to take sou-moto cognizance of the matter and “initiate action against all those who have been and are responsible in the killing, maiming and blinding of Kashmiri people ever since from 1947.
Meanwhile, Private Schools Association of Kashmir chairman GN Var, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Khan, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference leaders Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Jammu and Kashmir (IJT), have also condemned use of force against students.
