Srinagar, Feb 23: The joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has called for shutdown Sunday to protest the “mass arrest, censorship and any tampering with article 35-A”.
In a statement issued on Saturday, JRL said the “arbitrary” arrest of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and the “mass crackdown and illegal detention” of more than 150 Jamat-e-Islami cadres and leadership including its Ameer Abdul Hamid Fayaz across the Valley looks to be “not only part of the continued policy of suppression of pro-self-determination leadership and narrative, but in the case of hearing of 35-A in Indian Supreme Court most likely on Monday, an indication of what may be expected.”
JRL strongly condemns this “dictatorial policy” of cracking the whip and arbitrary arrests against Kashmiris by those calling the shots in J&K, the joint statement said.
The leadership said that deployment of additional 100 companies of paramilitary forces on an urgent basis also indicates that “something is cooking in this regard.”
The resistance leadership said that challenge to heredity state subject law is an extremely important issue for the people as “it is akin to our very existence as a people and directly linked to the Kashmir dispute”.
The JRL also denounced the “pressure tactics” being used by the authorities on certain media houses reporting in Kashmir.
“The standard of factual reporting maintained by our journalist is highly commendable,” it added.
Meanwhile, restrictions will be imposed in parts of Srinagar on Sunday to “maintain law and order” in view of protest shutdown called by the separatists, said an official.
He said restrictions under Section 34 CrPC will be imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, MR Gunj and Safa Kadal police station areas tomorrow.
In an order, the district magistrate Srinagar said there are “credible inputs that the miscreants may resort to various activities which will be prejudicial to the public tranquility, peace and order”.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a shutdown tomorrow against “mass arrests, censorship and assault on Article 35-A”.
