Lingering Kashmir ‘dispute’ root cause of bloodshed: Hurriyat Conference (M)

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday said that lingering Kashmir ‘dispute’ was root cause of the bloodshed this part of the globe.

While paying glowing tributes to Adil Ahmed Chopan, who was killed in an encounter with government forces in Seer Jagir Tral, and three armed youth killed at Khar Mohalla Handwara, a spokesman of the amalgam said that delaying resolution of Kashmir will further lead to loss of people.

“Kashmiri people are struggling for past seven decades for their legitimate rights and have giving sacrifices of all sorts, be it human lives or property besides facing worst form of suppression by New Delhi,” the spokesman said.

He said the world bodies were bound to take stock of the ground situation in Kashmir and use their influence on New Delhi to take concrete steps towards resolution of Kashmir issue so that further “bloodshed and mayhem could be stopped and future generations saved.”

The Hurriyat Conference also strongly condemned the nocturnal crackdown and door to door searches by forces in Shopian and Pulwama villages, stating that it was a deliberate attempt to instil fear among the people there.

The spokesman said the move amounts at converting entire Kashmir, especially South Kashmir into a police state and military garrison.

“Inflicting pain through atrocities and torture especially in the villages is the new norm of forces now,” the spokesman said, adding that forces have been given a free hand to “kill and maim Kashmiris.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman strongly condemned the continuous house detention of amalgam’s chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and barring him from carrying out socio-religious and political activities. The spokesman termed frequent house detention of Mirwaiz as a political vendetta which has no justification and evokes strong condemnation.