Mehbooba targets Govt for killing of youth

Mir Farhat
page5-1SRINAGAR, Mar 15: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today condemned the killing of a youth allegedly in police firing in Naidkhai area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, while  addressing a press conference in Srinagar said that protests were going on in Naidkhai against the arrest spree of the youth, which has become a norm in the district.
“Unfortunately, a youth, Farhat Ahmad Dar, was killed by police. We condemn the killing and express our sympathy with the family,” Mehbooba said, adding that condemnation has become a ritual for us in the State.
Dar, a 20-year-old youth of Shahgund, Sonawari, was shot dead allegedly by police in north Kashmir’s Naidkhai area on Friday evening after protests against the arrest of the youth in the area by police.
The PDP president lashed out at the Government for “failing to give safety to the youth”. She said they have been sending youth to graves.
“The Coalition Government has become a youth-eater in the State. Youth have been pushed to the wall by the repeatedly targeting them. From last few years innocent youth who were not involved in militancy have been killed. We can’t give safety to youth in the state. And those Kashmiris studying outside don’t ask for safety when we cannot provide safety inside,” she said.
Mehbooba also called for immediate withdrawal of FIRs against the youth for holding protests in the Valley. She flayed the police officer, who she claimed has been appointed at the behest of a local politician of National Conference in the Sumbal area.
Mehbooba also flayed the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for tweeting on the governance issues. “This Government has failed and runs on tweets,” she said.
She also appealed Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for a special central package for fruit growers and other farmers who have suffered losses due to the recent snowfall.
The PDP President also lashed out at National Conference for using police vehicles for ferrying wazwan to the NC’s Headquarters at Nawai Subhe during their meeting while Model Code of Conduct is in place.