A group of Kashmiri youth were assaulted at Jantar Mantar Saturday afternoon when they were protesting against the hanging of Afzal Guru.
The group including prominent human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, Kashmiri filmmaker Sanjay Kak, Kashmiri journalists who work in Delhi, scholars and college students who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to stage a protest march against the hanging of Guru who was sent to gallows inside Tihar jail at 8 am Saturday after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.
Clashes broke out when some Kashmiri girls were molested at Jantar Mantar allegedly by some right wing activists, “Bajrang Dal and police attack protesting Kashmiris at Jantar Mantar. A few hundred against 50-odd, including girls. Several injured, few arrested,” Najeeb Mubarki, who works with Economic Times, said.
Guru was sentenced to death by Indian Supreme Court for his alleged involvement in 2001 Delhi Parliament Attack case in which nine people were killed, five alleged militants were also gunned down in the encounter which almost led to a war between India and Pakistan.
“Kashmiri girls groped during ‘peaceful protest’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Boys beaten up by Bajrang Dal goons,” Farah Bashir, a journalist who was part of the protest, tweeted.
At least 25 Kashmiris have been detained by New Delhi district police and they were taken to Mandir Marg police station.
“Never seen such helplessness when a few Kashmiri students and professionals joined in by their friends from JNU were beaten by Sangh activists. But displaying profound courage, especially the girls, the protesters shouted freedom slogans in the faces of these people in a surcharged atmosphere where it was difficult to distinguish between policemen, media persons and the lumpen assailants. The goons were there even before the protesters started arriving, with some Kashmiri Pandits, lurking in the background, customarily,” Hilal Mir, who works with Hindustan Times said.
Well done. Should have broken legs of supporters