Srinagar, Dec 16 (KNS): Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) on Sunday condemned the spree of arrests, nocturnal raids and other measures taken by authorities to stop march called by JRL towards Badami-Bagh cantonment on Monday.
In a statement issued to KNS, JKLF spokesman said that “unleashing a spree of arrests, nocturnal raids, imposition of curfew and restrictions, issuing intimidating statements to halt a peoples march towards Badami Bagh cantonment amounts to accepting defeat even before start of the fight.”
“Opening barrels of guns at unarmed civilians, killing and maiming them with impunity and putting a blanket ban on mourning and peaceful protests is glaring display of cowardice and anti-democratic approach in Kashmir,” he said.
JKLF said that “from yesterday evening, police has launched a cleansing operation throughout Kashmir valley, Chenab and Pir-Panjal areas. It raided the house of JKLF senior Zonal Vice President Muhammad Yasin Butt and took him in custody. He has been detained at police station Nigeen. JKLF zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal is already in police custody and was yesterday shifted to Kothi-bagh Police station.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelPolice today also arrested JKLF vice chairman Showkt Ahmad Bakshi was and has lodged him at police station kothibagh. Zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri is also languishing at police station Maisuma from last few days.”
“In a bid to arrest JKLF chief, Police yesterday evening raided the residence of some of his friends and well-wishers. Similar kinds of raids were conducted against Zonal general secretary Sheikh Abdul Rashid and many others. Police is summoning many JKLF members to present themselves at police stations from yesterday,” spokesman said.
JKLF spokesman said that “the oppressive measures actually amount to conceding a defeat even before the beginning of a battle. Killing unarmed civilians is no bravery but butchery and putting ban on peaceful political protests is no democracy but colonial dictatorship and the oppressors who are unleashing this reign of terror will surely face the law of retribution and will have to answer for their crimes against humanity.” (KNS)