Says most detainees are young students; urges authorities to withdraw FIRs and allow them to continue their studies and lead normal lives
Srinagar, 09 Mar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah Monday urged the Union Home Minister to take a compassionate and humanitarian view regarding the youth who were detained and booked during protests over the situation unfolding in Iran.
In a statement issued here, Dr. Farooq said that the protests reflected the deep emotional anguish felt by many people in Jammu and Kashmir over the developments in Iran, a country with which the people of the region share long-standing cultural and spiritual connections.
He said that while the maintenance of law and order is important, it is equally necessary to understand the sentiments that led to the demonstrations. “The youth who came out to protest were expressing their concern and distress over events taking place in a country that holds significant cultural and religious importance for many in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Dr. Farooq said that most of those detained were very young boys, many of them students, whose future should not be jeopardized because of a moment of emotional expression. “These young individuals deserve an opportunity to continue their studies and lead normal, constructive lives. Saddling them with criminal cases at such a formative stage could have long-term consequences that would serve neither justice nor society,” he added.
He appealed to HM and security agencies to review the cases sympathetically and consider withdrawing the FIRs and releasing those detained, particularly the students, in the larger interest of their future and social harmony.“A compassionate approach at this stage will help reassure families and prevent alienation among the youth. Our society benefits when young people are guided back toward education, responsibility and constructive engagement,” Dr. Farooq said.
He expressed hope that the administration and the Union Home Ministry would respond with wisdom and sensitivity, keeping in mind the larger objective of nurturing peace, stability and opportunity for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
