Kupwara: Awami Itehaad Party (AIP) president and MLA Langate, Engineer Abdul Rasheed Sheikh on Saturday defied restrictions and lead a protest march on the anniversary of Kupwara massacre that took place on this day in the year 1994.

According to the statement issued here, Er Rasheed along with scores of his supporters demanded justice for the victims of Kupwara massacre.

Protestors were chanting slogans, seeking justice for the families of martyrs, removal of AFSPA and end to ‘state terrorism’.

The protest march as per the spokesman was scheduled to end at Martyrs graveyard where a public meeting was to be held.

However, a heavy contingent of Police and CRPF stopped the protestors near Branwari and arrested Er Rasheed along with many colleagues and lodged them at police station Kupwara.

Talking to media persons prior to his arrest, Er Rasheed as per the statement said that “Army by citing AFSPA and objecting to the investigation of Kupwara massacre, is actually confessing the guilt and the world community must realize that how Kashmiris are being denied justice by taking the shelter of draconian, undemocratic and uncivilized laws like AFSPA.”

He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either apologize for the genocide of Kashmiris that took place since 1989 or must allow international organizations to investigate the truth.

Lashing out at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Er Rasheed said that “she has proved to be a worst hypocrite and has compromised everything.”

Guest