Srinagar: Chairman of his factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani Sunday paid rich tributes to eight slain youth including Faizan Fayaz Dar, Abass Jahangir, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Nisar Ahmad Mir, Akeel Ahmad Wani, Aadil Farooq Sheikh, Aamir Ahmad Rather and Amir Farooq Ganie in Budgam on their first ‘martyrdom’ anniversary. “People and all these martyrs conveyed a message that they will never surrender despite all atrocities and excesses perpetrated by Indian forces and Delhi groomed henchmen,” Geelani said, adding, “On that day of unprecedented poll boycott by people illustrated that India and its stooges have no right to occupy state and mission of freedom is yet to be accomplished”.
He said that India with its military might has “occupied state and people time and again have rejected this forced occupation”.
He said people were showered with bullets and pellets, killing many and injuring hundreds. “However people braved all this and made election drama failure,” he said and paid salute to these bravehearts.
He said these “martyrs” are icons and will remain torchbearers for “freedom movement.” Hailing people for their exemplary sacrifices, Geelani said that “we need to pursue mission with same spirit and passion.”
Referring to painful events of April 9 last year, Geelani said that neither an encounter occurred nor there was any militant but Indian forces killed nine unarmed and innocent youth and injuring more than 150 people.
Geelani impressed upon people to take cognizance of appalling situations in Kashmir and stressed to take necessary steps in this regard and take measures to halt bloodshed and check growing excesses against unarmed and peaceful civilians in Kashmir. Geelani called for their cognizance in growing human rights violations and asked to ensure safety and dignity of 15 million people in the state.
