JOIN USCall for ending Kashmir strike
In a telephonic interview with Kashmir News Service, he said the continuation of general strike was causing hardships to and adversely affecting the economy of people and education of students. Sallah-u-Din, who heads the most powerful local militant group Hizb-ul Mujahideen, advocated strikes in a phased manner.
Normal life continues to remain paralysed for the last 40 days due to strikes in Kashmir with breaks of single-day normalcy twice. The strikes are being called by the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the killing of civilians in police and security forces actions against violent protestors. Since Geelani was under arrest, the other leaders in his faction favoured continuation of the strike.
Geelani, now under going treatment in a medical institute here in police custody, has appealed to the leaders of his faction to strike a balance in their protest programmes so that common man does not suffer.
The hardliner leader is likely to be released shortly. Another separatist party Jamat-e-Islami has asked the leaders, spearheading the protests, to keep the problems of the people in mind while charting their future programmes.
The PoK-based Sallah-u-Din announced that militants would suspend their attacks in the areas where public protests are going on. “The militants have been directed to carry out their activities in border areas only,” he said.
The UJC chairman justified the stone throwing saying it was the only means people had to fight the police and security forces.
He asked the separatists to get united and give a joint protest programme that is practicable and does not disrupt normal life of masses.
However, despite his announcement, there were reports of stone throwing in the old city of Srinagar.