Srinagar, Apr 10: Separatists on Tuesday said Kashmiris stand with their Jammu region brethren over the “harassment” meted to them at the hands of “fanatical forces”.
In a joint statement issued here, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik said: “…whether it is the issue of justice for Asifa or any other issue related to injustice or harassment of the people of Jammu, Chenab Valley, Rajouri and Poonch at the hands of fanatic elements belonging to a particular community, Kashmiri leadership and the people of Kashmir will always stand by them and stand up for them.”
They also criticized the move of blocking Crime Branch officials from filing charge-sheet against the accused in Kathua rape-and-murder case by lawyers as ploy to drive out Gujjar community from their land.
“It seems that it’s that motive of intimidation and displacement of the Gujjar community from their land, which is driving these people to such shameless and highly condemnable actions,” the separatist trio said.
Terming move of Kathua lawyers as “shocking and morally bankrupt”, they said there will be hardly any place in world where efforts will be made by section of people to shield the culprits involved in a minor’s child’s rape and murder.
“This brazen act by lawyers has also unmasked their anti-Muslim mindset,” they said.
