NC women’s wing protest against awarding of ‘human shield’ army major

Srinagar/May,24: The women’s wing of Opposition National Conference (NC) on Wednesday rallied against the awarding of an army major who used a Kashmiri civilian as a human shield by tying him to the bonnet of his jeep during the April 9 by-poll in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The women started their march at the party headquarters in Nawa-i-Subh complex and marched towards the Radio Kashmir crossing where they were stopped by the police.
MLA Habba Kadal and senior NC leader Shameema Firdous said that the rally was organized against the awarding of army officer who used a Kashmiri man Farooq Ahmad Dar as a human shield.
“We want to shake the government out of the stupor and denial of the anti-people steps taken by the coalition,” she said.
She said that the way government has waged a war against kashmiri students including girls is testimony to the fact that they have decided to crush any dissenting voice with an iron fist. “Sending children and even girls to jails is not just draconian but inhuman too,” she said.
While demanding that wanton arrests of students and slapping of PSAs be stopped forthwith she said, “It would be better for the government to realize that the crackdown on students would inevitably backfire.”
The protesters also shouted slogans against what they called “preposterous encouragement of a criminal”. While referring to the act of Major Gogoi getting commendation for perching a civilian on an Army vehicle as a Human shield she said, “The message is loud and clear. Army and government are establishing a reign of terror here.”
Other womens wing activists including Women’s Wing Vice President Rukhsana, Provincial Secretary Sabiya Qadri and senior workers of the women’s wing were on the forefront of the rally in which hundreds of workers and supporters participated.
Major Gogoi was on Monday awarded the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card for his “sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.”
The protest was also staged against the human rights violations and student arrests across the valley.