Srinagar
Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik strongly condemned and denounced the killing of young Muhamamd Yasin Bhat of Zainapora, Shopian and Owais Ahmed Dar of Kakapora, Pulwama, in forces’ “indiscriminate firing at them”
Expressing deep sorrow and anger at the killing of Kashmiris by the Indian forces JRL in a statement said that “lakhs of forces deployed across Kashmir valley have been given a free reign to use pellets and bullets indiscriminately on the innocent and unarmed peaceful protestors and kill them in a cold blood.”
JRL said that it is unfortunate that Government of India continues to think that its policy of oppression and military aggression against civilians especially Kashmiri youth ,will succeed in crushing the people’s movement and their aspirations .
The statement added that, “let it be it clear to those who pursue repression and authoritarianism as a policy that the dominant sentiment of people of Kashmir won’t be muzzled or quelled by such inhuman tactics and people of Kashmir are committed to fight for the right of self determination.”
The leadership urged the people of Kashmir to remain “steadfast at this juncture when they are under assault from all sides by the powers that be and to stay united and have faith so that the sacred and just political movement, for which thousands of people have spilled their blood, moves towards its goal.”
Paying rich tributes to three militants killed in Shopian encounter including Muhammad Yasin Itoo of Nagam, JRL said that “Kashmir has a lost a leader, who always advocated unity among people and leadership and had a great committed towards the freedom movement.”
JRL condemned the government for imposing frequent curfews in downtown Srinagar and other areas “turning them into a military fortress whenever incidents of state violence against Kashmiris take place in the valley.” They said curfew restrictions bans blockades and curbs is the states standard response to quell and crush protests and resistance to oppression and to “contain ” the situation on ground.
“Repeatedly educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities are shut down by the governments as a part of this strategy leaving the career of thousands of students in jeopardy.” The statement said. JRL said that “it is the same government who resorted to chest beating and crying hoarse last year, when schools and colleges remained closed.”
