Srinagar: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Syed Ali Geelani on Friday suspected involvement of government forces in ever increasing incidents of braid chopping in Kashmir Valley.
In a statement issued here, the octogenarian said that in a highly militarised zone and in presence of CRPF, BSF, and police, “the culprits go unnoticed.”
“The silence and incapability speaks volumes about the grave situations and is highly condemnable that despite attacks on modesty of women folk by these mysterious elements, the authorities are not ashamed of their failure,” he said.
Referring to similar type of events that haunted people in past, Geelani said that authorities while creating scare, set ablaze properties and localities during dead of night and even people were harassed by creating false impression of ghosts. “All these evil designs failed and were exposed by people,” Geelani added.
He said braid chopping was quite unacceptable offence and an attack on women modesty. “Keeping in mind the criminal silence maintained by police, people should act accordingly and expose and unveil agencies involved in this heinous crime.”
Lashing out at state authorities, Geelani said that despite announcements related to Ashura procession, the Shiite leaders including Nisar Hussain Rather, Mohammad Yusuf Nadeem, Imtiyaz Haider, Ayaz Ahmed Bhat, Ali Mohammad Rather, Bashir Ahmed Lone, Syed Showkat Madani, Ali Mohammad Najar and hundreds of other activists were arrested and lodged in police stations. “Restricting peaceful religious rituals is direct interference in religious matters.”
Geelani also condemned the arrest of Mohammad Ramzan Khan, Secretary General People’s Freedom League. He was arrested by authorities, booked under PSA and shifted to Kot Bhalwal Jail Jammu.
Meanwhile, the statement said, a protest demonstration against NIA was held at Hyderpora Srinagar after Friday prayers. Bashir Ahmad Qureshi ,Meraj-u-Din Rabbani and Mudasir Nadvi while addressing the protestors said that NIA raids are aimed at to create scare and termed it a psychological crackdown against resistance leadership, scholars, students and traders fraternity.