Handwara: Awami Itihad Party (AIP) president and MLA Langate Er Rasheed on Thursday staged protest outside the SP Office, Handwara demanding release of two youth of his constituency who were arrested few days back and booked under PSA.
Accompanied by scores of party workers and family members of the arrested youth, Rasheed held a sit in outside the SP office, Handwara. The protest halted the traffic along the Baramulla-Kupwara Highway.
The MLA-led protesters raised slogans ‘PSA Na Manzoor Na Manzoor’ and demanded immediate release of the youth.
Irshad Ahmad, a resident of Langate has been slapped with 3rd consecutive PSA, Rasheed told reporters. “The youth is associated with Muslim League. I even pleaded before SP and DDC Kupwara that if government says it has granted amnesty to youth, then why such hounding.”
MLA Langate said militants are asked to shun the path of militancy and join the mainstream to lead a normal life. “If they (militants), as per government, can lead a normal life, then why not a political activist,” he said.
Rasheed said another youth from Langate Abdul Rasheed was arrested during midnight from his home and detained under PSA. “Abdul Rahsid is a poor man and his family has no bread winner than him,” he said.
“We already have some youth of our area detained under PSA. This Act has become a lethal weapon to suppress the poor people across the valley,” he added.
“On one hand, PM Modi and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti repeatedly claim that they want to unite Kashmiris under a single umbrella, but on the other side, the same government is booking youth under PSAs in valley,” the independent MLA said.
“Kot Bhalwal and Tihar jails have become home to Kashmiri youth. We want peace to prevail in valley,” Rasheed said.
