Separatists and religious organisations have condemned the attacks on the members of a particular community and Kashmiris in Jammu region.
YASIN MALIK
In a statement chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad Yasin Malik said that “open freedom provided to the goons by the administration in Jammu is highly condemnable. The silence of saner elements, civil society and liberals of Jammu over the hooliganism of chauvinist attacks amounts to criminal attitude of these people.”
Terming the attacks as most reprehensible and act of cowardice, JKLF chairman said that “in 2008, people of Kashmir raised their voices against an illegal transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine board. It was not an agitation against any religion but against an act that was eroding our basic state subject law. Jammu in retaliation blocked the main highway, stopping the supply of even baby food, life saving drugs and essential commodities to the Valley. Kashmiri drivers and trucks were attacked and many burnt alive. It was an enough provocation but Kashmiri Muslims reciprocated these venomous acts by sheltering Amarnath pilgrims and tourists, arranging community kitchens for them and escorting them to safety.”
“Kashmiris have a history of being non-communal, humane and harmonious and we as a nation have always and in all seasons and weathers protected this humanity and harmony,” Malik said.
He said, “The limit of brazenness of these extremists is such that they even followed their inhuman and unethical attitude to protect rapists and killers of innocent nomad girl in Kathua in the name of communal and polity of hatred and unfolding and displaying Indian Flag.”
JKLF chairman said, “What is more painful is the criminal silence of saner elements, civil society and liberals of Jammu always choose to stay silent and in a way abet these acts of hooliganism.”
“What is happening in Jammu right now is shameful in every respect but what is more pathetic is the behavior of government administration which is busy protecting and abetting the hooligans and other forces attacking Kashmiris, torching their vehicles, shops and beating and vandalizing them,” the JKLF chairman said
He said, “Kashmiris will leave no stone unturned for protecting their Jammu brethren and other minorities and we want to ask all the communal elements to stop this hooliganism immediately as it is in their interest too.”
Referring to the attacks on Kashmiris in states like Bihar, UP, Himachal Pradesh, Bangalore, Delhi, Haryana, Utrakhand and other cities, the JKLF chairman said, “Though attacks on Kashmiri students, businessmen, workers, officials working in different institutions under this and that pretext is not new but when these attacks and attackers are backed by rulers.”
JKLF chairman said, “Kashmiris are striving for a just cause and no matter what kind of oppression is unleashed on us by the oppressors; we will never budge from pursuing this path and keep struggling for our cause.”
MUHAMMAD ASHRAF SEHRAI
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai also expressed anguish over the “arson, vandalism” and brutal assault on members of a particular community and Kashmiris in Jammu.
“We call upon the authorities to take immediate measures to ensure the security and safety to the minorities especially Kashmiris in Jammu and outside Valley,” Sehrai said in a statement.
“The recent attacks perpetrated by some groups against Kashmiri and others in Jammu only tend to increase the regional tension in Jammu Kashmir. Don’t use tit for tat as an excuse to harm, attack and harass people,” he said.
Appealing for restrain from all sides, Sehrai said, “There is no justification to attack vehicles and other properties of a particular community or to attack stranded Kashmiris for none of their faults.”
Expressing anger and anguish over hooliganism by the miscreants, Sehraie has urged law enforcing agencies and civil administration to ensure protection to all sections of people without being ‘biased’.
He said, “No one other than Kashmiris can feel the pain of bereaved families better than them as we have been passing through this turmoil since decades.”
JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI
Spokesman of Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir in a statement said that “communal elements have vitiated the atmosphere in Jammu and are harassing and intimidating members of a particular, especially Kashmiris. Police instead of stopping this hooliganism and lawlessness are acting as a mute spectator and are allowing the extremist to take law into their hands.”
“Dozens of vehicles belonging to Kashmiris were doused by these unruly mobs in front of the policemen. At some places, the police with these rioters were seen throwing tear gas shells towards the members of a particular community. These acts are highly condemnable.
MUSLIM LEAGUE
Muslim League (ML) Jammu and Kashmir general secretary Muhammad Rafiq Ganai also expressed serious concern over the continued attacks on the members of a particular community in Jammu and other places by communal goons. “Members of a particular community and Kashmiris are being harassed at one pretext or the other in Jammu,” Rafiq Ganai said in a statement.