Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Protesting against the innocent killings in Handwara, Pradesh Congress Committee activists took out a strong protest rally to Handwara from Congress headquarters Srinagar to express solidarity with the bereaved families but the security forces foiled their march and detained dozens of party leaders and workers today.
The protest rally was led by MLA and PCC general Usman Majeed. Several senior party leaders including Farooq Andrabi, Abdul Gani Khan, GN Mir Lasjan, Abid Kashmiri, Irfan Naqib, Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, Shameema Raina, Amir Rasool, Mehraj-ud-Din Parray, Gulam Nabi Mir and Dr Fayaz, Zulfkar were also accompanying.
As the Congress activists took out the protest rally, the strong contingent of police force reached there. They packed Congress leaders and workers in vehicles and detained at DPL and nearby Police Station. They were later released in the evening.
Expressing anguish over the deteriorating situation in the Valley, Congress strongly protested against the recent spate of civilian killings and castigated State Govt led by PDP for being insensitive to the volatile situation arising due to killing of innocent, unarmed persons.
Accusing State Govt of failing to contain the situation, Usman Majeed said that the killing of innocent civilians is intolerable and unacceptable. Sensing more trouble in the Valley ahead, Congress leaders asked the State Govt and police administration to take immediate effective measures for bringing normalcy in Kupwara district and elsewhere, failing which, more incidents like Handwara killing could occur again.
“The killing of innocent persons, in any form, cannot be justified by anything, firing on protesters has damaged the peaceful atmosphere to a great extent and it is surprising that those who have been claiming to ensure safety and development of people, now at the helm of affairs, have miserably failed to fulfill their promises made with the people,” the Congress leaders maintained.
Usman Majeed felt apprehensive that conspiracies are being hatched to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the State. He appealed the people to maintain calm for the prevalence of complete peace, so that no more causalities take place.
Reiterating Congress Party’s resolve to ensure safety of the innocent people, he said Congress will continue to raise its voice against innocent killings and barbarism.
It is pertinent to mention here that earlier a PCC delegation led by its president GA Mir was also not allowed to visit Handwara by the PDP led Coalition Government.
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