Authorities sealed Srinagar’s commercial hub Lal Chowk and detained top separatist leaders to foil their protest march against the civilian deaths in a blast on Sunday at an encounter site in Kulgam.
JKLF chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained and their supporters halted immediately after they tried to lead separate rallies in Srinagar. Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani was also disallowed to join his supporters at his residence.
“History stands testimony to the fact that military might and unrealistic attitude can never succeed in subjugating a nation forever. Even though right to peaceful assembly, protest and speech has been acknowledged by international laws, but such kind of peaceful activity is a sin here,” said Mr. Geelani.
Meanwhile, members of the Kashmir High Court Bar Association took out a march from the J&K High Court. “Both Pakistan and India will live happily and peace will prevail in the sub-continent if these countries resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue,” said Bar president Mian Abdul Qayoom.
Members of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a prominent traders’ body, also carried out a protest march over the Kulgam deaths. The members were holding placards and banners seeking “an immediate end to bloodshed”.
Demonstrations were also held in South Kashmir’s Anantnag by lawyers and traders. Sporadic but minor incidents of stone pelting were also reported.
NC hold rally
The National Conference (NC) also held a protest rally against “the unbridled human right violations in Kashmir”.
The rally was held at the party headquarters in Nawa-e-Subah. The participants were stopped from heading towards the Raj Bhawan by the police.
