Separatists react sharply, call for Kashmir bandh today

SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, June 20: Separatists of all hues today called for a compete shutdown to protest against killings of innocent Kashmiris by Indian troops.

Stating that denizens of the state were facing “worst kind of state terrorism”, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, said that India had given free hand to its troops in Kashmir.

“They are killing innocent Kashmiris with impunity,” he said during a sit-in demonstration at Magarmal Bagh here against the killing of Tufail Ahmad, Machil fake encounter and clampdown on youths.

Demonstrations were holding placards and banners as they shouted anti-government slogans and slogans against the killings of innocent youths in the valley.

Geelani said that after Tufail was shot dead in cold blood for no fault of his, people took to streets in protest and they were showered with bullets, tear smoke shells and batons by police and troops.

Condemning the police clampdown on youths, Geelani threatened that if all the detained youth were not released by Tuesday, his party would launch a state-wide agitation.

“If the youth were not released, Majlis-e Shura of Hurriyat Conference (G) will call for a special session to chalk out the programme for agitation,” he said.

Stating that the ongoing freedom struggle was not a communal struggle, Geelani said that “non-Muslim brethren” should not feel threatened by the movement.

“We seek right to self-determination for Hindus, Budhists and Christians also,” he said.

Geelani reiterated that his party was not against Amarnath Yatra (annual Hindu pilgrimage).

“We want Indian government to organize yatra under a specific time schedule as it is doing in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.

According to Hurriyat Conference (G) spokesman, sit-in protests were today simultaneously held at Kupwara, Handwara, Sopore, Baramullah, Hajan, Chadoora, Ompora, Islamabad, Shopian, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Kangan, and Kulgam.

Meanwhile, Condemning the atrocities committed by Police and paramilitary troops, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has called for a special session of all pro-freedom parties, members of civil society, traders federation, religious and social organizations to chalk out a joint strategy on the present situation.

Stating that Kashmiris were being killed under a well-planned conspiracy, Mirwaiz said that troopers had developed a dangerous habit of playing with the blood of innocent Kashmiri youths.

He condemned the killings of Mohammad Rafiq Bangroo and Javaid Ahmad Malla.

Meanwhile, in a statement, spokesman of Hurriyat Conference (M) condemned the harassment of Hurriyat’s leader of women cell, Yasmeena Raja, at the hands of security forces.

JKLF has also called for Kashmir bandh tomorrow to protest against killings of Rafiq and Javaid.

In a statement issued to the press here, JKLF vice president, Advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat, condemned the killings innocent youths and termed it as an act of “state terrorism”.

JKLF has appealed the people of Kashmir to hold peaceful demonstration across the valley.

Bhat said the way CRPF troops had killed Rafiq with batons and gun butts and then opened fire on protestors was testimony to the fact that “India is a terrorist nation engaged in the genocide of Kashmiris in the name of democracy”.

Meanwhile, JKLF (R) has also called for complete shutdown tomorrow against the killing of Javaid and Rafiq.

The spokesman of the party said, in a statement, that Indian Army was killing Kashmiri youths under a well thought out plan.

“In the last few months, dozens of Kashmiri youths were killed and hundreds of youths were maimed without any fault,” he said.

J&K Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) has condemned the use of brutal force on peaceful protestors termed it a “classical example of terrorism”.

Pertinently, JKAAC has postponed its foundation day function in protest against the killings.