Curbs, arrests and detentions classic case of colonial attitude: Geelani

Srinagar: State authorities thwarted with force the ‘Shopian Chalo’ call given by joint resistance leadership to pay homage to the innocent youth brutally killed by Indian forces on March 4.
Syed Ali Geelani the chairman of Hurriyat Conference, who is under continuous house arrest at his Hyderpora residence ,since past eight years , defied the curbs on Wednesday and tried to lead a march towards the Shopian town to pay homage to civilians killed by forces & to express solidarity with the people of southern areas of Kashmir who are “braving the brunt of state oppression.”, but, he was prevented by a heavy contingent of police from doing so.
Meanwhile, police arrested Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Haji Gh Nabi Sumji, Gh Ahmad Gulzar, Hakim Ab Rashid, Bilal Sidiqee, Mohd Yusuf Makroo, Mohd Ashraf Laya, Umer Aadil Dar, Syed Imtiyaz Hyder, Kh Nazir Ahmad and placed them under house arrest and later shifted to local police stations.
Talking to people before he was prevented by police to lead march towards Shopian, Syed Ali Geelani strongly condemned the ruling regime for “forcibly disallowing” the JRL’s peaceful march to Shopian. “Repeated curbs, restrictions, arrests and detention of resistance leadership and activists are a classic case of colonial attitude, said Geelani.
He said that everyone is aware that the people in southern areas of Kashmir have suffered immensely since past several years and continue to bear the “severe brunt of Kashmir’s forcible control.”
Paying his heartfelt tributes to slain youth on March 04, Geelani said civilians are killed and later branded as OWG, s. Forces are carrying genocide and this is unacceptable in civilised societies, said Geelani.
“Hundreds of people mostly our youth have been killed, while even children and women are not spared, Geelani said. Recently six of young budding youth were brutally massacred by forces, saying most of these were either students or had nothing to do with militancy’, Geelani asserted. Due to this anti-Kashmir operation, every second day, a cordon-and-search operation is launched in some area and the people are tormented and harassed and when they protest against it, they are fired upon, killed, injured or arrested, he added.
“All records of oppression against the people in southern areas have been broken,” Geelani said, adding that “not even once have we been allowed to visit there to reach out and sympathise and express our support for the hapless, suffering but brave people of South Kashmir.”
Lashing at state authorities, Geelani said they have failed to secure and provide safety to civilians. life and dignity are of top priority, but it is so quite disgusting that people at the helm of affaires and stooges, for lust of chair, assign least importance to this, instead are parroting about so-called development and constructions of roads and flyovers.
We demand eviction of forces camps from civilian’s areas, Geelani said and added that these camps are a source of nuisance and harassment for locals. We support demand of people of Shopian for removal of these camps which have come in every nook and corner of South Kashmir, Geelani added.
“Today we had called to express our solidarity with detainees and shutdown call against shifting of Dr Mohammad Qasim Faktoo, Shafi Shariati and other 40 prisoners, shifted to Jammu and other jails”, Geelani said and added that Faktoo since past 25 years is suffering in jail and is subjected to vengeance by authorities.
Syed Ali Geelani demanded immediate shifting of prisoners to valley and said that detainees are being shifted to outside state on one pretext or the other, saying it is unjustified and inhuman.
Those lodged in Tihar Jail, are innocent and no substantial proof against them was proved and while lashing at authorities, Geelani added that NIA accusations were simply a psychological war to break our resolve.
Demanding immediate release of those detained by NIA, Geelani said that those lodged in Tihar, are not criminals but political prisoners who are being subject to detention for their political convictions and outlook and while blaming authorities, Geelani added that their detention are being prolonged on one pretext or the other. It was psychological creak down on resistance leadership and nothing substantial against them was proved, Geelani added.
Kashmir is disputed state and UNO has accepted 18 resolutions to decide its political destination, saying India and Pakistan are signatory to these resolutions.
Referring to history, Geelani said that Delhi based leaders and all its stooges in state were rhetoric about this illusion that Kashmir is an integral part of India, however, it could not change the history or ground realities about status of Kashmir issue.
“We are not afraid of state power and threats, nor will we budge. People will carry and follow freedom struggle and show resentment despite all odds. We will never accept supremacy or hegemony of India & will oppose forcible occupation and pursue over genuine struggle till last solider leaves our state,” said Geelani.