KL Report
SRINAGAR
On the eve of World Human Rights Day, Tuesday, a number of functions and programs were organized in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir in which the kith and kin of the killed during last two and a half decades and disappeared in the custody of police or forces participated with the demands that the men in uniform who are allegedly involved in the civilian killings during 2008, 2010 uprisings be dealt with according to law and those disappeared in custody be traced out or declared dead.
The family members of the victims took part in the sit in programs in Pratap Park and Municipal Park displaying banners with slogans and photographs of the victims. These programs were organized by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and Coalition of Civil Society (CCS) respectively.
But it was the independent lawmaker Er Rashid who along with his supporters appeared in the Regal Chowk and marched through Lal Chowk.
Rashid’s protest was attended by a considerable number of his supporters who were demanding not only a legal action against the men in uniform allegedly involved in the civilian killings but also the return of the remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, and JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat.
Guru and Bhat were hanged in Tihar Jail, on February 9, 2013 and February 11, 1984 respectively. Both were later buried in the premises of the same jail.
Rashid while talking to media persons alleged, “New Delhi has forgotten that Kashmiris are also humans and need to be treated as humans.” He and his supporters chanted a slogan in Urdu while marching towards Lal Chowk saying “Bhool Gaya Hay Hindustan, Kashmiri Bhi Hay Insaan.” (India has forgotten the fact that Kashmiris are also humans).
Police however, arrested Zaffar Akbar Bhat of Hurriyat (M) with his associates as they tried to march towards Lal Chowk from press enclave.
Zaffar informed media that police detained Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq early Tuesday. Mirwaiz was scheduled to lead a protest march from Hurriyat Head office Rajbagh.
Hurriyat (M) rebellion, Shabir Ahmad Shah, was also arrested when he tried to lead a protest march defying house arrest orders from his office in Sanat Nagar area of the city. Shah along with his associates was later shifted to Police Station Sadder.
Police early morning informed Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani that he can organize the already scheduled seminar in his party head office.
Geelani was not allowed to address to a media conference on Monday, neither he was allowed to take forward his what he calls “peoples contact program” by detaining him in his residence. He was scheduled to address public meeting in Tral, Bandipora and Srinagar.
JKLF, Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik has gone underground to avoid his arrest on Monday, evening. Malik is scheduled to lead a march in the evening from Batamalo. “Malik’s close associate Shawkat Ahamd Bakshi was arrested Monday evening after which Malik Sahab left his residence to make sure that he himself leads today’s protest march,” a JKLF spokesman told Kashmir Life.
