Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani on Tuesday said that rape and murder of a minor Kathua girl, Asifa shook the collective conscience of people of Kashmir.

Blaming state administration for their ‘callous and careless’ approach, Geelani said that instead of taking swift action against the culprits, people and a Gujjar leader protesting against the gruesome incident were arrested, saying that it illustrates their ‘bigoted’ mindset.

Geelani expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the grieved family of the deceased minor and blamed police authorities for their ‘uncalled and unjustified’ action against the people participating in the Rasm-e-Chaharum of the victim.

He said that people in a peaceful manner were protesting against the brutal killing of a minor, but they were manhandled, arrested and instead of taking any action against those accused, the protestors were detained.

Taking a dig at the people who never miss a chance to make hue and cry about these gruesome incidents but at the same time share their moments with the “perpetrators”, Geelani said they should remember that they are the people whose hands are soaked in blood of innocents and are responsible for humiliating and massacre of the common people.

Meanwhile, Geelani expressed his deep anguish and sorrow and denounced the biased role of the Indian media and criticized them for their criminal silence.

“They are making a hue and cry over petty matters but in this case, they maintained silence and turned a blind eye,” Geelani said.

“People in outside states vandalize and ransack properties, however brute force is not used against them, however quite contrary to this people in the state, on mere pretext, are arrested and subjected to humiliation and brute force,” he said.

Geelani expressed his deep anguish and sorrow at the snail’s pace proceedings in 8-year old girl’s murder case and urged stringent action against those involved in her murder and rape.

Referring to the recent statement of Mehbooba Mufti wherein she has said that “women in state are safe’’ Geelani said that it is an illusion and instead of this woman are molested, disrespected and humiliated by men in uniform.

Geelani said that people are not satisfied and are still awaiting fair trial and demanding that the persons involved in the heinous crime should be dealt with firm hand and brought to book for their wrong doings.

Lashing at state administration, Geelani said that police leave no stone unturned while detaining innocents, however those involved in immoral activities are shielded and given a free hand.

Guest