Srinagar, September 05, 2010: The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, has expressed concern over the illegal detention of Hurriyet leaders and activists including Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi and Peer Saifullah. Syed Ali Gilani said that the illegal detentions showed frustration on the part of the occupation authorities after failing in suppressing the ongoing uprising. “India can not muzzle Kashmiris’ just voice for their right to self-determination through use of brute force,” he added.

He said that the occupation forces were committing genocide of the Kashmiri people. Syed Ali Gilani said that India could not win over the Kashmiris’ determination to get freedom from unlawful occupation of Jammu & Kashmir.

Syed Ali Gilani also appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Amnesty International to impress upon India to release over 1,500 unlawfully detained pro-liberation leaders and activists including Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Firdoos Ahmad Shah and Abdul Ahad Parra.

Illegally detained APHC leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Zafar Akbar Butt, has paid glowing tribute to the Kashmiri youth martyred by Indian police and troops during the ongoing uprising in occupied Kashmir. Zafar Akbar Butt was talking to a delegation of the JKSM, which met him at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu. He appealed the people of Occupied Kashmir to keep unity among their ranks to foil the conspiracies hatched by India and to take the freedom movement to its logical conclusion.

He said that India could not muzzle the Kashmiris’ just voice for their inalienable right of self-determination through use of brute force. Zafar Akbar Butt said that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the JKSM in a statement in Srinagar expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Hurriyet leaders lodged in different jails. He demanded an immediate release of all the illegally detained Hurriyet leaders including Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad and Zafar Akbar Butt.

In response, Indian forces martyred two more innocent Kashmiri youth during violent military operations in Poonch and Gurez areas. The troopers of Rashtriya Rifles killed one youth at Bhatti-Dar in Mendhar area of Poonch, where a trooper was also reported critically injured in an attack. The troops of 3-Madras Regiment killed another youth at Shakote in Gurez.

Earlier, several troops were injured in the same area. Indian troops used gunship helicopters in Gurez. The operations continued till last reports came in. Meanwhile, the troops have also launched a siege and search operation at Alal in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district.

At least two-dozen civilians were injured in the firing of Indian police and paramilitary troops in different parts of the Kashmir Valley. Four people were wounded, two of them with pellets, when the police and CRPF fired bullets and teargas shells on the pro-freedom demonstrators at Bohri Kadal. The critically injured Shabir Ahmad Sheikh and Abrar Ahmad Malik were shifted to hospital.

The locals of Khanyar, Bon Mohalla, Fateh Kadal and Malaratta said that the troops and policemen went berserk after failing to disperse the demonstrators. They said that the personnel barged into residential houses, ransacked household goods and damaged the windowpanes of several houses.

Six persons were injured in pitched battles between protesters and the paramilitary forces at Kurhama in Ganderbal. In Soibugh, scores of people staged protests against the arrest of four youth identified as Iqbal Wani, Abdur Rashid, Naseer Malik and Showkat Ahmad, demanding their immediate release.

Thousands of people staged anti-India demonstrations in Ajas, Sumbal, Bandipore, Yunsoo, Langate, Kralgund, Trehgam, Tujjer, Darzi Mohalla and Kupwara areas. At least eight people were injured after being thrashed by the paramilitary troops during a demonstration at Zaloora in Sopore.

In Palhalan, hundreds of men, women and children protested against the harassment by the troops and police. They blocked Srinagar-Baramulla highway for several hours demanding the release of a civilian, Mohammad Akbar and his son Waseem, who were arrested by police during a raid.

People staged protests in Dobiwan, Tangmarg, against the arrest of two youth, Urfeen Ahmad Ganai and Bilal Ahmad Shah. The troops used brute force to break up the demonstrations, injuring many people. Peaceful pro-freedom demonstrations were also held in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Islamabad areas.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) of Occupied State of Jammu & Kashmir has said that the arrests and atrocities cannot suppress the ongoing Quit Kashmir Movement. The JI spokesman said that India must acknowledge the ground realities, accept Kashmir as a dispute and allow the people to decide their future themselves.

He maintained that India should release all the political prisoners and youth arrested during last 3-months and initiate unconditional dialogue with Hurriyet leadership to settle the lingering dispute.

The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) has demanded inclusion of the issue of enforced disappearances in any peace initiative on Kashmir. APDP leader, Parveena Ahangar addressing a meeting of the Association held in Srinagar said that there were thousands of families that had been directly affected by the enforced disappearances in the Occupied State of Jammu & Kashmir and it was imperative that this important and sensitive issue be taken seriously and included in any kind of dialogue or peace process between Pakistan, India and the Kashmiri leadership.

A statement of the Association issued after the meeting said that the monthly sit-in protest of the parents and relatives of the victims of disappearance, which was to be held at Pratap Park in Srinagar on August 30, could not be staged, due to the present situation of the territory.

The Association reiterated its demand that the occupation authorities should disclose the whereabouts of the persons, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance. “A credible autonomous commission be set up to investigate the enforced disappearances. The orders for prosecution of men in uniform involved and identified in the enforced disappearance be implemented. Besides, India should ratify and implement all international conventions on human rights, particularly the International Convention on Enforced Disappearances to which India is a signatory,” the statement said.

The APDP pledged to fight for justice till its demands were fulfilled. It also expressed solidarity with all the bereaved families who lost their kin during last three months in the Kashmir Valley.

APHC leader and the Patron of Jammu and Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi, Muhammad Azam Inqilabi, has said that Indian obduracy is the major hurdle in settling the Kashmir dispute. Muhammad Azam Inqilabi said that the Kashmiri people should keep unity among their ranks to win over the Indian conspiracies to harm the liberation movement.

He demanded of the occupation authorities to immediately release all the illegally detained pro-freedom leaders and activists including Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chairperson, Aasiya Andrabi and revoke all draconian laws in the territory. Inqilabi expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Aasiya Andrabi in jail.

Vowing to continue the freedom struggle till its logical conclusion despite all odds, he said that the participation of large number of people in the ongoing agitation showed their determination for achieving their right to self-determination.