Srinagar, December 10
The police resorted to cane charge and lobbed tear gas shells here today to quell demonstrators of both the mainstream opposition and separatist political parties protesting against the alleged human rights violations at the hands of security forces in Kashmir. These demonstrations and a seminar were held on the occasion of Human Rights Day today.
Nearly 100 demonstrators were held by the police in the Central Lal Chowk area, while senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Shah were kept under house arrest. However, their supporters joined the demonstrations to register their protest against the increasing number of the violation of human rights at the hands of security forces in the state, particularly in the Kashmir Valley. The National Conference also held protest demonstrations, three days after the NC and moderate faction of the separatist APHC shared the stage on a day-long token fast here, protesting against the human rights violations.
The National Conference demonstrators, led by former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, took out a procession from the party headquarters at Zero Bridge to Budshah Chowk through the main MA Road. The party supporters, holding flags and placards, expressed concern over the continued and rising incidents of human rights violations at the hands of security forces. There were ding-dong battles between the police and demonstrators for several hours. Earlier Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly A.R. Rather and other senior leaders addressed a rally at the party headquarters in the morning.
Several separatist leaders, including Nayeem Ahmad Khan, J&K National Front, Sheikh Abdul Aziz (APHC) and Bashir Ahmad Bhat, JKLF, were among a number of demonstrators held by the police.
Various separatist political parties have also expressed concern over the alleged human rights violations in the state at the hands of security forces. These parties include Jamaat-e-Islami, Mulsim League, J&K People’s League, Democratic Freedom Party, Mulsim Khawateen Markaz, Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami, Students Movement and Islami Tanzeem-e-Azadi.
The moderate faction of the APHC held a seminar at its party headquarters on the occasion of Human Rights Day here today. The seminar, presided over by former Chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari, focused on the human rights violations in the valley in view of the historical and geographical position regarding the Kashmir issue. The speakers dwelt in detail on the killings of innocent people, custodial killings and continued detention of the Kashmiri youth. Moulvi Abbas Ansari appealed to the international community to take notice of the excesses and human rights violations and extend support to the struggle of the people of Kashmir for an end to the 57-year-long dispute. He reiterated the APHC stand that unless the issue was resolved through dialogue, there would be no end to fear and disturbance leading to the excesses against the common man in Kashmir.
— PTI
