Srinagar Jan 15 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC) Monday expressed its serious concern over the launch of cordon and search operations (CASO), door to door searches and unleashing a reign of terror in downtown areas of Sher-i-Khas after a gap of 17 years stating that entire Kashmir is plunged into a tight grip of fear every year ahead of the India’s Republic Day on January 26.
According to AAC, weeks ahead of January 26, entire Kashmir is turned into a military fortress and to harass the population forces launch massive search operations everywhere, pedestrians frisked, vehicles and commuters searched, door to door searches of residential houses conducted, residents harassed and even mobile and laptops of youth also checked thoroughly.
In a statement issued to KNS, the organization has strongly condemned these acts and termed these as breach of privacy and violation of basic human rights of the individuals.
The AAC stated that youth are rounded up and lodged in various police stations in the force’s drive ahead of January 26 as if they are criminals and there is hardly any area in Kashmir where people don’t feel scared and harassed due to the over-presence of government forces. “All this is witnessed at a time when the ruling dispensation makes tall claims of the prevalence of peace and flourishing of democracy in Kashmir. However, all these claims stand punctured as ground situation continues to give a different and a very grim picture on all fronts,” the AAC said.
The AAC also took a dig at the ruling regime for imposing frequent curbs in downtown areas of Sher-i-Khas thereby choking the economic prospects of the business community there besides casting a shadow on the career of young students who are deprived of right to education as they find it tough to make it to educational institutions due to stringent curbs in place every now and then.
The statement also denounced the frequent house detention of AAC Patron and Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq terming the move as a political vendetta aimed at preventing Mirwaiz from making direct contact with his followers and the people in general.
The AAC stated that these repressive measures are aimed at keeping the resistance leadership away from the people and to muzzle the genuine and legitimate Kashmir movement through military might.
It also stated that time stands witness to the fact that peoples’ movements across the globe succeeded while as military might had to taste defeat and in Kashmir, people’s resolve and commitment towards the movement is an indicator that the on-going struggle is destined to taste success as they are committed to safeguard the mission of martyrs and to take the Kashmir struggle to its logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of sixth death anniversary of prominent AAC leader Advocate Abdur Rouf Dalal, the AAC paid rich tributes to Advocate Dalal stating that the deceased was always active on social, religious and political fronts and that his contribution will always be remembered.
The spokesman said that Advocate Dalal was one of the bold leaders who worked under the patronage of the founder of the organization Shaheed-e-Milat Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq (RA) and played an important role towards Kashmir’s movement for right to self-determination. In connection with the death anniversary of Advocate Dalal, the AAC organised a commemorative meeting at Rozabal, Khanyar where special fateh-khawani was offered for the deceased besides paying him rich tributes. (KNS)