Be ready to come on streets: Joint Hurriyat to people; Calls for shutdown today

Srinagar, Apr 11: Joint Hurriyat comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik called for a complete shutdown on Thursday against the civilian killings in clashes during an encounter in Khudwani, Kulgam on Wednesday.
In a joint statement issued after a press conference here, the leadership also asked the people to sit on peaceful protest in their localities and Mohallas after Zuhr Paryers on Thursday and also observe a complete black out from evening against these killings.
“By this peaceful protest Kashmiris will actually try to aware the sleeping conscience of the international community which is maintain a criminal silence on Kashmiri human rights,” Joint Hurriyat said.
“The way Kashmiris are being pushed to the wall through merciless spree of brutal killings by forces demands from us to be united and collectively raise our voices against this brutality,” the leadership said.
Leaders appealed Kashmiris to remain ready for coming on to streets and roads if necessary to “counter these nefarious designs”.
Joint Hurriyat, the statement said, is deliberating upon and devising a strategy to counter the “ongoing and unrelenting state terrorism”.
Condemning the bias of Indian media and news channels, the leadership said that Indian media is acting as foot soldiers of the forces by glamorizing the human killings.
Geelani and Mirwaiz were placed under house arrest but they addressed the press conference on telephone while Yasin Malik was present in it.
“We have been left with no option other than to come out on roads. The way our new generation is being targeted and killed reflects that it is being done under a well-planned conspiracy,” said Mirwaiz.
Saying killings are not going to stop if people maintain their silence on the issue; Mirwaiz urged all sections of society to protest “unabated” killings.
“Every section of society should come forward. Be it traders, lawyers, engineers or students. Until and unless, everyone would not raise voice against these killings, till that time it will continue. They will selectively kill everybody…,” said Mirwaiz.
“While Joint Hurriyat had decided to hold a protest against the rape and murder of innocent Kathua Girl Asifa, the news of brutal killings by forces at Khudwani, burning down of many residential houses and shops and showering pellets and bullets on innocents injuring hundreds came forth,” they said.
Joint Hurriyat said that persistent killing spree is “actually a well devised policy of rulers who have given the forces a free hand to kill Kashmiris at will and to suppress the voices.”