- Malik leads protest against Shopian killings
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik Wednesday called for “Shopian Chalo” on February 2 (Friday) while JKLF chairman led protest against the Shopian killings and human rights violations.
As Geelani and Mirwaiz continued to remain under house arrest, the protest against Shopian killings and human rights violations in Valley was led by Malik at Nowhatta chowk.
Large number of people and separatist leaders and activists participated in the protest.
Geelani and Malik address the protestors via phone.
In his address, Geelani said entire Kashmir has been turned into a police state as there is no end to innocent killings and killing of three civilians in Shopian proves it.
While strongly condemning the killings at Shopian, he said Delhi is using its military might to crush the genuine struggle of Kashmiris. “However, people are committed towards their goal and wont drag their feet from the movement.”
In his telephonic address, Mirwaiz said Kashmir has been converted into a police state and military might is on full display while separatist leadership is not even allowed to raise their voice peacefully against the massacres of Kashmiri youth.
“A tight grip of fear has engulfed Kashmir amid huge presence of forces everywhere. The dance of death has become the hobby of forces deployed in Kashmir and those holding position in the present regime seem to be sitting ducks and most helpless people in the State,” he said.
In his address, Malik condemned the worst form of “state terrorism” saying there is no denying to the fact that entire Kashmir has been converted into a killing field by the forces.
“Fear of getting killed looms large over every Kashmiri citizen. In the biting cold, people irrespective of their age are being asked to come out of their houses and stand outside for hours together. The property worth lakhs is being vandalised by the forces in the name of search operations,” he said.
Malik said whether pro-India people remain in power or outside, they have acted like mute spectators whenever innocent Kashmiris were killed by Indian forces.
He said there is no doubt to the fact that forces have been given a “free hand and a license under AFSPA to kill Kashmiris.
“The JRL will remain united and continue its efforts till the present movement is taken to its logical conclusion and that history is witness that no genuine movement has been crushed by using military might,” JKLF chairman said.
Malik announced on behalf of JRL that on February 2 (Friday) separatist leadership would march towards Shopian to express their solidarity and sympathy with the families of youth killed in army firing.
“On February 2, congregational Friday prayers will be offered at Jamia Masjid Shopian. Later, a protest sit-in will be held at Shopian Chowk,” he said.
Meanwhile, among those who participated in today’s protest at Nowhatta include Mushtaq Ahmed Sofi, Mehrajuddin Rabani,Engineer Hilal War, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Advocate Yasir Dalal, Peer Ghulam Nabi, Zahor Ahmed Bhat, Muhammad Yousuf Nqash, Mukhtar Ahmed Sofi, Abdul Majeed Wani, Ghulam Hassan Mir Jaffar Kashmiri, Ashraf bin Salaam, Bashir Kashmiri, Adil Dar, Yasmin Raja,Farooq Ahmed Saudagar, and others.
The traders of downtown including Bashir Ahmed Rather, Javaid Zargar, Nazir Ahmed Shah, Bashir Ahmed Kenu and others also participated in the protest.
Hurriyat leader Mukhar Ahmed Waza, who was also supposed to participate in the protest, was detained by police and lodged in police station Sheerbagh, Anantnag.
