Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, today called for Kashmir-wide protests after congregational Friday prayers on January 26 against the killing of civilians, indiscriminate firing and use of pellets and vandalizing of properties.
“We impress upon all religious clerics to lead protest demonstrations and aware people about ongoing bloodshed perpetrated by state administration and raise the cause of suppressed and oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the resistance leaders said in a joint statement today.
Strongly condemning the killing of 17-year old Shakir Ahmad Mir in Shopian by the government forces, the resistance leaders blamed the state administration, police and armed forces for these killings.
Denouncing state rulers for their ‘deceit and haughty’ approach, they said, “This brutal killing proves that their parroting and tall claims for their so-called democracy are hoax and celebration for January 26 is just an enacted drama to hoodwink international community.”
Paying glowing tributes to the slain youth in Shopian gunfight, the resistance leadership said, “The youth are sacrificing their precious lives for a greater cause to serve the nation and we are duty-bound to carry their mission to its logical end.”
Joint leadership, while appealing the international community to take cognizance of ‘appalling’ situation in the state, impressed them to raise their voice and come to the rescue of people in Kashmir.
“The growing Indian aggression against unarmed and peaceful people in state has touched the alarming line and has turned this beautiful place into a battle field. Under well thought out plan the Indian authorities, forces and their henchmen are carrying out a genocide,” said the JRL.
Meanwhile, in a telephonic address to mourners participating in funeral prayers of slain youth Firdous Ahmad in Shopian, Syed Ali Geelani said, “These youth are leaving a heavy responsibility on our shoulders and the blood of these martyrs will not be allowed to go waste. Kashmiris will never forget their sacrifices.”
The three leaders thanked the people of Handwara for observing shutdown today against the massacre of 25 civilians in the area by armed forces on January 25, 1990.
Commemorating the anniversary of 23 slain minority community members of Wandhama, killed on 25th January in 1998, the joint leadership expressed their solidarity and sympathy with the aggrieved families.