Joint Hurriyat meet at Hyderpora: ‘Political suppression forcing youth to militancy’

Srinagar, Feb 19: Joint Hurriyat leadership Tuesday said that choking of political space was the main reason behind Kashmiri youth opting for militancy.
“Aggressive policies of India and ban on political dissent are pushing Kashmiris to the wall. Mothers, fathers and even political leadership have no role in this regard. The ball lies in the court of Indian political and military leadership,” said the leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Yasin Malik.
The trio held a meeting on Tuesday at Hyderpora in which present political situation and all its aspects came into deliberation.
Referring to the Tuesday’s press conference by Lt General KJS Dhillon, Corps Commander of the Srinagar based 15 Corps in which he asked mothers to stop their children from joining militancy, Joint Hurriyat said: “Persuading young boys to refrain from treading some path is not in the hands of fathers, mothers or even political leaders however this ball also lies in the court of Indian political and military leadership who have chosen to choke every little space on political dissent in Kashmir.”
On the issue of removing security of some leaders, Joint Hurriyat said that it was a non-issue.
“It was India and its abettors in Jammu Kashmir who deployed security to these leaders without any request and today have removed it also on their own,” the leadership said.

Guv lauds forces

Jammu, Feb 19: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday lauded the army, police and paramilitary forces for killing militants in an encounter at Pinglina village of Pulwama.
Governor expressed grief on the killing of the army and police personnel in the operation and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and expressed sympathy and solidarity with family members of the slain.
Malik, as per a Raj Bhavan spokesperson, spoke to Brigadier Harbir Singh, Commander 12 Sector RR, and Amit Kumar, DIG South Kashmir and their family members and inquired about their well-being. the duo was injure during Monday’s attack.
He has wished a speedy recovery to them and other security personnel injured during the operation.
Earlier, Governor had deputed Advisor, Vijay Kumar to visit them in Srinagar and ensure that the best possible medical attention is provided to them and other injured personnel in the incident.