Government on Friday foiled the Shopian march called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) by imposing strict curbs in Downtown here and Shopian district besides barring the leadership from leading the march.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Miwaiz Umar Farooq, who defied their house detention, were barred from proceeding towards Shopian by the police, while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was arrested in Shopian when he tried to lead a protest march against the killings of youth in the district.
The JRL had called for a march to Shopian to offer joint congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid Shopian to express solidarity with the families of five youth killed recently, of which four were shot dead by army.
Malik reaches Shopian:
Muhammad Yasin Malik managed to give slip to police and surfaced in Shopian Jamia Masjid Friday morning. Malik had gone into hiding on Wednesday afternoon after addressing a sit-in at Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
A source said that Malik travelled during night to evade police arrest and finally succeeded in reaching Shopian. As the news about Malik being inside the Shopian Jamia Masjid spread in the town, a heavy contingent of police surrounded the Masjid while police and paramilitary CRPF vehicles were placed in lanes and by-lanes of Shopian.
A few dozen people also managed to reach Jamia Masjid Shopian. As the clock ticked 12 noon, Malik started addressing the people inside the Masjid over loudspeaker amid pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans.
A JKLF spokesman said that Malik was accompanied by JKLF leader Ghulam Muhammad Dar. “When Malik led a protest march after Friday prayers, he along with Dar was detained and shifted to some unknown place,” the spokesman said in a statement.
Before his arrest, Malik addressed a gathering outside Shopian Jamia Masjid and strongly condemned the recent civilian killings in Shopian, blaming politicians of mainstream parties for the killings.
Malik said, “Those clad in green robes used to once visit militants’ families and shed crocodile tears. Same people are now responsible for bloodshed.”
Soon after Malik was detained, youth pelted forces with stones. The forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. Nearly six persons sustained minor injuries during clashes. The district administration in Shopian had imposed restrictions under section 144 of CrPC.
Geelani pushed back by police:
Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani came out of his Hyderpora residence at 12:30 pm to proceed towards Shopian. A huge contingent of police was already deployed outside his residence, who blocked by his way by placing concertina wires on the road. “Policemen told Geelani that he can’t proceed further,” a witness said.
Talking to media persons, Geelani said, “We will continue our struggle till the final goal is achieved.”
“The sacrifices of youth won’t go in a vain and nobody will be allowed to barter these sacrifices,” he said.
Praising the people of Kashmir especially youth for following the programmes of pro-freedom leadership, Geelani said, “Arrests, curfew and restrictions can’t weaken the ongoing struggle.”
Lashing out at police and the state administration for “using excessive and unnecessary force against innocent civilians” and while referring to recent killings at Ganowpora Shopian, Geelani said: “Our programs are always peaceful and disciplined but the police and the other forces deliberately create trouble and then blame the pro-freedom people for it. Today, we had decided to express solidarity and sympathy with those killed in the indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by trigger happy forces in Shopian. Our programme was foiled by using force.”
Geelani asked the world community to come forward for resolution of Kashmir issue. “Not only Pakistan, but the whole world should come forward and support Kashmiris in achieving their goal,” he said.
“In Kashmir we are witnessing sheer hooliganism and a martial law like situation,” he said.
Geelani, who continues to remain under house detention for past eight years, paid tributes to slain youth including Shakir Ahmad Mir, Javed Ahmad Bhat, Suhail Javed Lone, Rayees Ahmad Ganai and Musharraf Fayaz.
Mirwaiz defies house detention, detained:
Mirwaiz also defied house detention but policemen deployed in strength outside his residence whisked him away and the leader was detained at police station Nigeen.
Talking to media persons before his detention Mirwaiz said JRL had called for a march to Shopian to express solidarity with five families whose dear ones including a 10-year old boy were killed. “But entire Kashmir has been choked with Downtown converted into a military garrison. Residences of leaders and activists are being raided,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the basic purpose of the congregational protest at Shopian was to send a message to the world community as to how long they would maintain silence over the killings of innocent Kashmiris and how long would Kashmiris continue to die. “The height of repression is that we are not even allowed to condole the killings of our young martyrs,” Mirwaiz said.
He said, “When entire Kashmir is in a state of shock and mourning over the killing of five unarmed and young boys, Delhi and the RSS-backed people are demanding withdrawal of case against the army. It is an irony that now Delhi and its lakhs of forces in Kashmir are targeting young boys between the age group of 10 to 15 and also the young women which we believe is nothing but a well-planned strategy to ensure the genocide of Kashmir’s younger generation,” he said.
Mirwaiz said it was due to the “repressive and autocratic” measures of Delhi and its forces that young and educated boys in Kashmir are left with no choice other than to pick up arms as a means of resistance.
No prayers allowed at Jamia Masjid:
The government disallowed Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Downtown here. No one was allowed to proceed towards Jamia Masjid. “The main entry gates of the grand masjid were sealed and main roads were blocked with concertina wires. “This is for the third time in a month that prayers have been disallowed in the grand mosque.”
The government had also imposed strict curbs in areas falling under the jurisdiction of police station Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safa Kadal, Maharaj Gunj while as partial curbs were imposed in Maisuma and Kralkhud areas.
South Kashmir:
Clashes erupted in several parts of Shopian, Anantnag and Pulwama districts on Friday. Complete shutdown was observed in Anantnag and Kulgam districts. Meanwhile, both Shopian and Pulwama districts remained shut for 9th consecutive day on Friday.
An official said that contingents of police and paramilitary men were deployed in “volatile” areas of both districts to foil JRL’s proposed march to Jamia Masjid Shopian. “Forces had sealed all main and interconnected roads leading to Jamia Masjid. All roads leading to Shopian remain closed and nakas were set up at different places to prevent people from entering Shopian town. Arwani-Zainapora road through Anantnag, Shopian-Pulwama and Kulgam-Shopian roads were also blocked by forces.”
The witness said during the day pro-freedom songs (taranas) were played in many Masjids of Pulwama and Shopian, asking people to come out and reach Jamia Masjid Shopian. Mobile Internet service in both districts remained suspended on the tenth consecutive day. “The authorities also suspended train service in the Valley,” an official said.
During the day protests and clashes were witnessed in various south Kashmir districts. In Pampore funeral prayers in absentia were held for slain civilians of Shopian.
People took out peaceful protest rallies in Pampore Chatapora, Rajpora and Kakapora areas of Pulwama district. “After Friday prayers ended at various Masjids in main town Pulwama, scores of people came out on streets and staged protests against civilian killings. In the evening clashes broke out in various parts of Anantnag (Islamabad) and Kulgam districts,” a witness said.