Kupwara 12 Jul: AIP President and MLA Langate, Er. Rasheed, Thursday, organized a sit-in protest at Handwara against the killing of a local youth, Khalid Gafar Malik, from Trehgam, a press erelease issued here said.
Appealing New Delhi to stop ‘genocide’ of Kashmiris, Er. Rasheed reiterated that J&K dispute needed a political resolution and violence was not the medium for achieving the goal.
The protesters led by Rasheed carried play cards and condemned the murder of the slain youth while amidst anti army slogans. While addressing the protesters, Er. Rasheed reminded India of its ‘tall hollow claims’ that it was a democratic country which strongly believed in Gandhian principles of nonviolence. “Whatsoever is happening in Kashmir is ample proof to negate India’s claims of tolerance and respecting rights of people. Had Gandhi been alive today he would have preferred to leave India rather arguing with those dealing with Kashmiris only through the barrel of gun and butchering small kids with ruthless bullets,” Rasheed lamented adding that ‘justifying shameless killings by taking cover of AFSPA has destroyed professional capabilities of Indian army. Terrorism and use of force have become epicentre of India’s state policy, but this harsh, inhuman and draconian policy is bound to fail for obvious reasons,” Rasheed added.
“Justifying every killing has become a routine matter and cold blooded murder of Trahgam youth can never ever be justified in any civilized society,” Rasheed said adding that use of force on protesters in Trehgam and others parts of district Kupwara who were protesting against the killing of Khalid Gafar Malik was unjustifiable as the outrage was the outcome of a ‘huge political failure of seventy years’.
Later, Rasheed was detained at Vodhpora on way to Trehgam and placed in Police station Handwara, the press release added.
