Srinagar, Aug 27 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday condemned the use of force by police against mourners during a Muharram procession in Central Kashmir district Budgam.

In a statement issued to KNS, Bukhari termed the police action as an unwanted interference in religious affairs which is not acceptable in any civilized and secular society.

“The Police should refrain from such unwarranted and reprehensible actions which bring disgrace and disrepute to an institution mandated to ensure safety and security of the people," he remarked.

Meanwhule, the JKAP leaders Muntazir Mohiuddin, Syed Farooq Andrabi and Mushtaq Ahmad also condemned the police action and demanded a magisterial probe into the incident. They said that police should avoid confrontation and exercise maximum restrain on such sensitive occasions.

" We expect the police administration to order an end to such unwanted actions which earlier also like in Nasrullah Pora raised many questions on police behaviour in the Budgam district," they added.

The JKAP leaders also hoped that police will ensure a people friendly approach so that incidents of unnecessary confrontations with the people are prevented in future.(KNS)