The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and incarcerated Muhammad Yasin Malik Saturday strongly condemned the civilian killings and use of force against Kashmiris.
The JRL in a statement said the gruesome killing of civilians Ishfaq Ahmad, a carpenter by profession from Budgam district, and a girl Muskan Jan of Wangud-Qaimoh in Kulgam district has deeply grieved everyone in Kashmir.
The JRL said it was extremely sad that New Delhi “has no compunction in allowing such inhumanity to continue by giving unbridled powers to its forces to kill innocent people day in and out”.
The Leadership said: “With these two murders, this year alone more than 400 Kashmiris have been killed. It clearly reflects that New Delhi believes in a policy of military might to suppress Kashmiris and their aspirations”.
The statement said the world community “has to break its silence in the face of such oppression and urge government of India to stop these unabated killing and put a halt to its military approach”.
The JRL appealed to people to hold a candle light vigil and torch processions on 25 November (Sunday) after Magrib (evening) prayers against the ongoing killing spree in Kashmir.
The JRL said the policy of targeting pro-freedom leadership by the state “continues” which is being reflected by the killing of TeH leader Mir Hafizullah.
The leadership said the incarcerated leaders and activists including Ghulam Mohammad Khan Sopori, Mushtaqul Islam, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Basharat Ahmad Mir, Lateeful Islam, Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir, Farooq Ahmed Bhat, Bashir Ahmed Quresehi, Bashir Ahmed Dar, MuhamamdShafi Dar, Khursheed Ahmed Parray, Firdious Ahmed Parray, Shakeel Ahmed Thokar and dozens of others have been shifted to Haryana prison in blatant violation of Supreme Court ruling.
The JRL said “while we condemn any killing” the arrest of two women on “mere suspicion” in connection with the killing of a BJP leader and his brother in Kishtwar was “vindictive and authoritarian”.
The leadership expressed serious concern over the “mounting pressure on the Muslim community in Kishtwar after these killings”. While demanding the immediate release of two women arrested in Kishtwar, the statement said the resistance leadership would never favour murder of a person just for his political or ideological belief but the way Muslims of Kithwar belt are being “harassed”, is no way to catch the culprits.