Srinagar, July 26: Strongly condemning the killing of a youth in Bandipora, Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has called for complete shutdown and peaceful protests on Saturday, July 28.
While supporting the call, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association today urged people to observe Kashmir Bandh on July 28.
“It is a heinous and brutal crime. The youth was killed in cold blood by Army. We strongly condemn the incident,” Syed Ali Shah Geelani said addressing ‘Nazool-e-Quran’ conference at his Hyderpora residence.
He said, “This incident is part of the State’s plan to muzzle the voices of resistance.”
Geelani appealed people to observe complete strike on Saturday against the incident and demanded complete withdrawal of forces from J&K. “The Ulema and Imams of local Masjids should also raise voice against the incident,” he said.
Terming Army as an ‘instrument of the State for oppressing Kashmiris,’ Geelani said that till the presence of single soldier in Jammu and Kashmir, ‘the future of our youth cannot be secured and such incidents will continue to occur.’ “They take shield of various draconian laws like AFSPA to fulfill their design,” Geelani said.
Hurriyat (G) chairman also condemned the recent incident at Malangam in which a youth was shot at and injured by Army personnel. Geelani also expressed shock over the use of force by police on women protestors while the latter were demanding their basic right of electricity.
On the desecration of religious centers, he said the continuing attempts of burning shrines and masjids in the valley were done ‘under a conspiracy by some anti-movement elements.’ “They indulge in such incidents in order to divide the Muslim community and spark communal tension in the region,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association urged people to observe complete shutdown against the ‘gruesome act’ of ‘custodial killing’ and desecration of shrines and masjids.
In a statement, the Bar said the victim was arrested by 27 RR stationed near Aloosa along with SOG Bandipora on July 24 and his dead body was received yesterday by the family members.
“The custodial killing of Hilal Ahmad Dar is a well-coordinated incident which coincides with the oath-taking by Pranab Mukherjee and the visits of Defense Minister A. K. Anthony and Army Chief Bikran Singh to Jammu and Kashmir,” the Bar said. “It has been history in Kashmir that Army manages such events at certain moments in which innocent blood of Kashmiris is consumed with the sinister design to justify its presence in the State.”
Bar rejected the magisterial probe ordered by the Government saying such probes are only ‘an eye wash’ to pacify the feelings of the people. “We call for independent and impartial probe in the incident,” it said.
“We warn the Government of serious consequences in case the violence is not stopped on peaceful protestors and the guiltily Army officials are prosecuted and punished under law,” the Bar said.
The District Bar Association Bandipora has also supported the bandh call on July 28.
Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Muhammad Yasin Malik, urged people to hold a peaceful protest march from Lal Chowk to UN Office Sonawar after Friday prayers against the killing of Bandipora youth and ‘other brutalities by security forces and police.’
“This is highly undemocratic and unethical that we are not allowed to visit the families of those who have been brutally killed. All this is being done to put curtain on the sins and crimes committed by Indian forces and by this act rulers are proving it beyond doubt that their first and foremost job is to protect and shield the crimes of forces,” Malik said.
JKLF Chairman said that forces have killed hundreds of innocent youth in 2008 to 2010 but even after passing of 4 years no FIR has been lodged against the ‘killers in uniform.’
“This clearly shows that whatever forces are doing has the direct backing of these so-called democratic rulers,” Malik said. “The voice of Kashmiris cannot be silenced by these brutal killings,” he said.
Malik said, “The forces enjoy enormous powers and support from State government which gives them free hand to brutalize people.”
A delegation of JKLF led by district president Abdul Rashid Mogloo reached Aloosa Bandipora and met with the family members of Hilal Ahmad Dar. The delegation condoled the family and also addressed a gathering there.

SEPARATIST LEADERS UNDER HOUSE ARREST:
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Javaid Ahmad Mir, Zafar Akbar Bhat and others were put under house arrest on Thursday in order to prevent them from visiting Bandipora.
Various separatist leaders and organizations have condemned the house arrest of leaders, calling it an attack on individual freedom.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under house detention this morning.
Muhammad Yasin Malik has been put under house arrest today, said a statement issued by JKLF.
Heavy contingent of police and forces today morning laid a siege around Malik’s house, the statement added.
“A delegation of JKLF led by Advocate Bashir Ahmad Bhat left for Bandipora. When the delegation reached Ajas heavy deployment of police and other forces intercepted it and arrested many leaders including Bhat, Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi, M Sideeq Shah, Ghulam Rasool Hazari and Muhammad Haneef. The arrested were shifted to Sumbal police station and have been lodged there,” the statement said.
Separatist leader and Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, Zaffar Akbar Bhat was also arrested today along with associates Zulfiqar Hamid, Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdul Rashid, Aijaz Ahmed, Bilal Ahmed and Muhammad Shafi by police at Byepass crossing Chanapora in Srinagar, said the Salvation Movement spokesperson in a press release.
The APHC leader was on way to Bandipora to express solidarity with the family of Hilal Ahmed Dar, it added.
Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement vice-chairman Tufail Altaf Bhat, while condemning the killing of Hilal Ahmed Dar and arrest of JKSM Chairman and other workers, appealed to the world human rights bodies to take serious notice of ‘Indian State terrorism’ going on in Kashmir. The statement has also demanded complete withdrawal of forces from J&K and release of all political prisoners languishing in different jails.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST