Srinagar, July 9:  The Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Friday described present situation in Jammu and Kashmir as martial law and appealed the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Countries and international human rights bodies Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch to take immediate steps against India’s “aggressive” designs in Kashmir.
 In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz, strongly denounced the imposition of continuous curfew for the second week and said the imposition of the curfew had led to severe shortage of medicine, food and essential commodities.
He described it as “martial law” accusing India of declaring war against people of Kashmir.
Strongly condemning Government for not allowing people to offer Friday congregation prayers in the Jamia Masjid for second consecutive week, Mirwaiz said the tactics won’t subdue Kashmiris.
He condemned the government action of not allowing the media persons move freely and described it as attack on freedom of press.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front has also condemned the imposition of restrictions on people and termed the “government policy” of disallowing  people from offering  Friday prayers as a brazen interference in religious affairs .
“The authorities crossed every level of oppression and barbarism by using brute force against people inside the Hazratbal shrine,” JKLF vice chairman advocate Bahsir Ahmad Bhat said in a statement issued here.
Bhat condemned the “harassment” of people offering Friday prayers at Jamiat-Ahl-Hadees Majid at Gaw Kadal and the indiscriminate beating of locals. “For the past few weeks, Kashmir has been turned into a concentration camp with curfews and imposition of other restrictions. It seems the entire population is being punished collectively for demanding freedom. We want to ask India what sort of a democracy is this?” Bhat said. The JKLF condemned restrictions on local media and accused Delhi based media of launching a propaganda campaign against Kashmiris.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST