APHC condemns fresh wave of arbitrary arrests

Srinagar, Aug 29: All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while expressing serious concern over the fresh wave of arbitrary arrests of youth, on Friday said that the use of severe force and repression on mourners in this sacred month of Muharram-ul-Haram is not only unfortunate but also extremely condemnable.

In a statement, APHC strongly condemned the teargas shelling and aerial firing on Muharram procession in Budgam, booking youth under several cases in Budgam and Srinagar, arrests in Batamaloo and its adjacent areas, and imposing of strict restrictions in several parts of Valley including Srinagar; saying such harsh measures are in clear violation of the worldwide accepted democratic norms and principles.

The sentiments of people especially youth can never be suppressed by the dint of force, APHC said, while maintaining that the violation of basic human rights and suppression of genuine sentiments of Kashmiris continues from the last seven decades. This is an eye-opener and a matter of concern for world human rights bodies and the international community, the conglomerate added.

APHC reiterated that it strongly opposes the government’s unilateral steps aimed at usurping the rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, saying such measures cannot alter the nature, status and significance of the unresolved Kashmir dispute.

The conglomerate demanded unconditional release of not only those arrested recently but also all Hurriyat leaders, political leaders, civil society members and youth detained in homes, police stations, and prisons in J&K and jails across India.