Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leaders and activists this evening held candlelight protests at Chotta Bazar, Chattabal Veer and Bemina Crossing here and at Hakarmulla in district Budgam against the alleged ongoing human rights abuses by the forces in Kashmir.
“Despite heavy restrictions, spree of arrests and police intimidations, JKLF leaders and activists, as a part of JRL weeklong programme, today held candlelight protests on the fourth consecutive day today after Mugribprayers atChotta Bazar, Chatabal Veer, Bemina Crossing and HakarMulla against human rights abuses in Kashmir by the forces,” a JKLF spokesman said in a statement.
He said, “People from different walks of life also participated in the protests. Holding glowing torches and candles the participants raised slogans against growing and ongoing Indian state terrorism in Kashmir. Various JKLF leaders also addressed the protesters and delivered a message from ailing incarcerated chairman of JKLF to them.”
“Police and other forces have choked every little space of peaceful political activities in Kashmir. Even mourning and expressing grief has been banned by police and authorities and all this undemocratic and dictatorial job is being done in the name of democracy and peace,” a JKLF spokesman quoted the incarcerated JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik as having said in his message from SKIMS, Soura, where is currently undergoing treatment.
Condemning the arrest of social activists, Shakil Ahmad Batkoo and Shabir Ahmad Dabla, from Koker-Bazar her by police, JKLF chairman said, “Yesterday police arrested chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance Muhammad Yasin Khan and today another trade union leader Farooq Ahmad Dar and many others were arrested by police to put a halt to the ongoing people’s protests against human rights abuses by forces.”