Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, Saturday strongly condemned the use of ‘indiscriminate’ force including pellets on worshipers who had come for congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid a day earlier.
The leaders in a joint statement said areas around the mosque turned tense because of heavy deployment of government forces who fired tear gas and pellets causing injuries to scores.
“Without any reason Jamia Masjid premises are turned into a military garrison which later leads to tension in the area,” the statement said.
“If government didn’t stop its ploys to damage the sanctity and sacredness of the grand masjid, a sustained campaign will be started and entire responsibility will then lie on the ruling dispensation.”
Criticising the use of force the resistance leadership said many of the injured were hit by pellets in their eyes.
“The police and other forces resorted to disproportionate use of force against youth, namazis, pedestrians and even shopkeepers of Jamia Market,” the JRL constituents said.
They likened the magnitude of the forces deployment around Jamia Masjid ahead of Friday prayers and their action to “state terrorism” deserving strong condemnation.
“The forces deliberately turned entire Jamia Masjid and its adjoining areas into a battlefield.”
On Friday, nearly 60 people including women worshipers were wounded, many with pellets in their eyes, when government forces fired inside the Masjid leading to mayhem. Ten government forces personnel were also wounded in the consequent clashes with angry protestors.
The JRL constituents accused the government of deliberately targeting the grand historic mosque because echoes Kashmiri aspirations and attracts people from all across the valley to seek “blessings and forgiveness from Almighty Alllah”
“Jamia Masjid has always been an eyesore for the ruling regime which wants to target the centrality of Kashmir’s spiritual centre and discourage people from coming there,” their statement said.
“Pulpit of Jamia Masjid has always voiced justice for people in the light of Islamic teachings and has represented the aspirations of people and will continue to do so till people of Kashmir get their rights and their aspirations are fulfilled.”
The leaders also accused the government of targeting Jamia Masjid and Downtown as a whole every time anything happens anywhere in Kashmir.
“Jamia Masjid and the downtown areas become the first target of the rulers who impose curbs and curfews causing great distress to the population there,” their joint statement said. “Even Friday prayers are repeatedly barred as government displays its military might that day to ensure nobody reaches the grand Masjid.”
Meanwhile, JRL leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik participated in the silent sit in staged by the ShahreKhaas traders against firing of pellets and teargas shells inside the Masjid and condemned the forces action.
“The Jamia Masjid is the religious and spiritual centre of Kashmir and no move by the government to weaken its sanctity would be tolerated,” the Mirwaiz said.
The two leaders warned if the government didn’t stop its attempts to violate the sanctity and sacredness of the grand masjid, they would start a sustained campaign against it.
“Entire responsibility will then lie on the ruling dispensation.”