Srinagar, 17 August: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday condemned the use of brutal force on the Muharram procession, calling the act unjustified and gross interference in the religious affairs of people.
While condemning the brutality against the peaceful mourners, Party’s Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said that on one hand the administration proclaims to allow such Muharram processions and on the other hand no such procession is being allowed on ground. “In what can be called as flagrant defiance of its own orders, the administration is not allowing Muharram processions to march on roads. The administration is speaking with a fork tongue. Dozens of mourners have been bundled up, and scores of others have been ruthlessly baton charged by police at various places. There are restrictions on movement of traffic and people everywhere. The horrific images of young boys writhing with pain and blood oozing out from their mouths at Jahangir chowk lets slip to the administration’s seriousness on allowing Muharram processions,” he said.
Taking strong exception to the use of brutal force against the journalists who were documenting the Muharram procession at Jahangir Chowk, Kamal said the disproportionate use of force against journalists, mostly the photojournalists, is condemnable. “It is very unfortunate to see J&K police resort to inexcusable barbarism. It is being reported that cameras of scores of journalists were broken by the police in the unfortunate incident. Far from ensuring an enabling atmosphere for the journalists to work in a free and fair manner, the administration is resorting to such unwarranted actions. Such wanton use of force against the fourth pillar of democracy is a clear indictment of the utter disregard the incumbent administration has for press freedom. I demand the incident should be taken note of and the erring offices brought to justice. Administration is also duty bound to compensate photojournalists for the losses their equipment has suffered in the incident,” he said.
Kamal also called for release of all the mourners who have been detained by the police. He has prayed for the fast recuperation of those who have sustained heavy injuries in the brutal police assault.
Meanwhile Political Advisor to VP Tanvir Sadiq and Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar have also condemned the brute use of force against the Muharram mourners and Journalists who were documenting the procession at Jahangir Chowk.
