Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Friday defied the restrictions and tried to march towards Shopian to express solidarity with the bereaved families who lost their beloved ones in forces firing recently.

The JRL comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for ‘Shopian Chalo’ today and had appealed people to reach the venue.

Authorities had imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas to prevent the Shopian Chalo march and had placed barricades on the roads to the thwart the vehicular as well as the pedestrian movement as well.

The JRL in a joint statement issued here said that forcing the people of Kashmir into submission by using ‘dictatorial and oppressive’ means is only day-dream of Indian leaders and the local government.

“Spree of arrests, nocturnal and day time raids, imposition of curfew and restrictions and other oppressive tactics are a glaring example of the farce practiced in Jammu and Kashmir. Gruesome killings at Shopian and a complete ban on mourning is not only inhuman but act of state sponsored terrorism,” JRL said while speaking to media and people at Hyderpora, Nigeen and Shopian respectively.

The JRL said that earlier, police and forces in large number cordoned the residence of senior leader of JRL Syed Ali Shah Geelani and placed barricades, razor-wire and police vehicles to close down the roads.

Defying house arrest, Geelani as per program started his journey towards Shopian but police and forces arrested him and placed him under stringent house arrest.

JRL leader Mirwaiz Muhammad Umer Farooq also defied his house arrest and started his march towards Shopian but police and forces that had already sealed his residence arrested him and shifted him to police station Nigeen.

Malik who had gone into hiding on 31st January 2018, after travelling miles through tough terrains on foot today morning managed to reach Jamia Masjid Shopian.

Soon after his arrival at Shopian, police and other forces sealed Jamia Shopian from all sides, the JRL said.

Malik addressed people at Jamia Masjid and after Friday prayers, led peaceful protesters out of the Masjid and marched towards main Chowk Shopian.

While strongly condemning the use of force to suppress a peaceful protest program, JRL leaders said, “to foil a peaceful protest against gruesome killings at Shopian and atrocities being committed on common Kashmiris, police, SOG and Army was let loose against the civilians.

Leaders said that this spree of arrests, heavy restrictions, curfew and barricades, intimidations and threats are actually the real face of Indian democracy practiced in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Today the farce of Indian democracy yet again stands exposed before the international community and people of India as Indian rulers and the state government chose to choke people’s voices by military might,” asserted JRL.

Guest