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Srinagar, March 18, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Indian authorities arrested over 700 resistance and religious leaders and activists during massive crackdown operations launched by Indian forces in every nook and corner of the territory over the past two and half months.
Prominent among 21 of the detainees slapped with black law, Public Safety Act, include Mohammad Yasin Malik, Advocate Zahid Ali, Mufti Shabbir Ahmad Falahi, Moulvi Mushtaq Veeri, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, Nowshad Ahmad, Muhammad Shaban Dar, Abdul Samad Inqalabi and teenage boy Aqib Gulzar. All these detainees were shifted to the jails outside the Kashmir valley. Other arrested during the period include Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi and Syed Imtiaz Haider.
Illegally detained Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League, Masarrat Aalam Butt, was brought from Amphala jail in Jammu to Srinagar for hearing in a fake case lodged against him in 2015. He was sent back to Jammu, the same day. Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League in a statement termed the prolonging of Masarrat’s detention as political vengeance.
Hurriyat leaders, Bar Association, trade bodies and civil society members while condemning the arrests urged the United Nations, OIC, Human Rights Council, International Committee of Red Cross, Amnesty International and other human rights bodies to take notice of the worst human rights situation in the occupied territory.
Meanwhile, Indian troops launched cordon and search operations in different areas of Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla districts, today. The troops during door-to-door search operations forced the inmates to stay outside for hours. The forces’ action triggered clashes between the troops and people in Drubgam area of Pulwama district. The troops used force and fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Ummat-e-Islami and Jammu and Kashmir Employees Movement in their separate statements expressed concern over the raids and arrests by Indian forces in the territory. They said the men in uniform have been set free to arrest each and every Kashmiri who has a different political ideology.
On the other hand, it was demanded at a work shop held in Jammu that the Kashmir dispute be resolved through top level talks between Pakistan and India. The work shop was organized by the Jammu and Kashmir United Peace Movement. Babu Singh and Muhammad Sharif Sartaj, leaders of the forum, addressing the event narrated few stories to depict the massacre carried out against the Muslims in Jammu in 1947.
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