By Muslim Mirror News
Srinagar: Awami Itehad Party’s attempt to gherao (siege) Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed residence’s in protest against the brutal murder of Ishtiyaq Chowdhry in Kalakoot village by a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member whom party called them terrorist- was foiled by police. On the call of party president and MLA Er Rasheed, hundreds of party workers started marching towards CM’s residence this afternoon chanting slogans against VDC and Mufti regime. However, a heavy contingent of police stopped them after moving some distance. Then protesters sat on dharna but police used force to disperse them and arrested Er Rasheed along with about one dozen supporters and lodged them in Kothi Bag police station.
Because of protest march, traffic came to stand still for some time on the Gupkar road in the city which leads to CM’s official residence. Talking to the media persons, Er Rasheed accused the Mufti government of giving free rein to goons to attack Muslims in the state. He said, “The least government can do is to disband the so called VDCs and set a neutral probe to investigate their atrocities. Government has no justification to allow these extra constitutional bodies who are working as civil army for Sangh Parivaar.”
Er Rasheed condemned the police action and said that in a Muslim dominated state, even Muslims are not being allowed to mourn the innocent deaths and police had no justification to stop the peaceful AIP protesters from having a peaceful sit-in in front of Mufti’s residence who is directly responsible for all these killings and other incidents that took place in the state. He asked Mufti to take lessons from the history and should be prepared to same fate as Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq had met.