Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Dec 15: Joint Hurriyat leadership called for a three-day shutdown starting from Saturday in protest against the killing of seven civiliansand three militants during and after an encounter in Pulwama.
Seven civilians were killed during protests near the gunfight site inKharpora Sirnoo village in which three militants and army soldier were killed.
In a tweet posted by Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, he said that from “today (Saturday) onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across.”
Mirwaiz also called for a march to Badamibagh cantonment, saying that Joint Hurriyat and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 December “to ask GOI [Government of India] to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily.”
As per reports, over 60 civilians have been injured among which some have been referred to hospitals in Srinagar.
They were injured in government forces action near the site of the gunfight at Sirnoo area, in which three militants are confirmed to dead.
Joint Hurriyat leadership of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, in a statement, said that south of Kashmir had been turned into a graveyard for its people especially the youth.
“11 of its residents were killed today by the Indian armed forces, who went on a rampage in Pulwama, as Government of India executes its war on Kashmir,” the leadership trio said.
They added that “state terror” and human rights abuse is worsening by the day especially under the garb of cordon and search operations.
“That the Indian army chief had already indicated to the increase in civilian killings with impunity in his recently shocking statements. Shouldering the coffins of our youth each day is now unbearable as is the silence of international community at the massacre in Kashmir,” they said.
The three said that as Government of India is “only interested in our territory and forcibly holds on to it while systematically eliminating the people, it is better that they finish us off at once.”
“That is why leadership has asked GOI to do that as we march towards their army headquarters in Badami Bagh on Monday. Or else stop the killings and massacres and resolve the dispute and save human lives,” they said in the statement.
Joint Hurriyat said that to mourn the Pulwama killings and register their strong protest and condemnation against this cruelty and barbarity people will observe a three day shutdown from Saturday.
