Handwara: Independent legislator Engineer Rasheed Monday led a protest march in Unsoo village of Handwara town against the killing of a woman Misra Bano.
The deceased woman according to police was killed in cross firing between government forces and militants, however, protesters alleged that Misra was killed by Army.
Protesters led by Rasheed chanted slogans seeking arrest of the army men and an end to what they call state terrorism.
As per a statement, Engineer Rasheed while addressing the protesters at Main Chowk Handwara condemned the killings calling them unacceptable and added that killing of Misra has yet again proved that security forces are accountable to none and treat themselves above any law.
Rasheed said “It seems that the price of Kashmiri lives has been fixed Rs. 1.00 lakh amd a traditional enquiry. New Delhi wants to threaten Kashmiris and shut their mouth but denying them justice will only strengthen the commitment of Kashmiris to fight for their genuine political rights. It seems that for security forces killing every Kashmiri irrespective of age and gender is something they call serving the national interest,” Rasheed said.
He said the intellectual class of India needs to understand its duties and must do whatsoever required to make army and other security agencies accountable.
Rasheed alleged that Mehbooba Mufti has lost complete control over the forces and she has been left to the mercy of false briefings of men in uniform.
Rasheed also ridiculed Government for organizing a state sponsored Seminar on International Human Rights Day at SKICC.
He said “It is strange and astonishing that those who commit, advocate and facilitate Human Rights Violations were sermonizing about necessity of Human Rights, just to mislead the civilized world. The Govt. has been throwing into dust bin the recommendations of State Human Rights Commission but still appreciating the work of SHRC at the Seminar just to praise each other to justify their misdeeds. It is shameful for the law minister Abdul Haq Khan to chair the Seminar on Human Rights, despite the fact that a youth namely Manzoor Ahmad Khan hailing from his own constituency disappeared in broad day light in the custody of security forces and till now Law Minister has been doing nothing except authenticating the false version of security forces just to bury the serious issue.