Srinagar, Sep 15: Joint Hurriyat leadership, on Saturday, called for a shutdown on Monday in Kashmir against the killings of five militants and a civilian in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Joint Hurriyat comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik appealed for a shutdown on Monday against the killings and “unabated use of force on people.”
A 24-year-old youth was killed after forces fired live ammunition and pellets to break up a protest near the site of a gunfight in Chowgam area of Qazigund earlier on Saturday that left five militants dead. At least 20 protesters were injured in the clashes.
Meanwhile, Joint Hurriyat, in a statement, expressed their grave concern over the use of force by the Special Operation Group of police to summon political leaders and activists to their respective camps.
“This is ‘a mark of tyranny and barbarism’ to suppress the voice. Air Cargo Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Bandipora, Baramulla and in all other districts, the SOG personnel and the army intelligence agencies, as per reports from the political activists associated with the movement, summon the said persons to their camps which has caused panic and consistent threat to their lives,” alleged the leadership.
They appealed UN and its Human Rights Commission and all other recognized human rights organizations to take serious cognizance of “a dangerous threat” to the life of activists.