Conflict

Joint resistance says ‘killing of Rizwan Pandith by NIA, SOG act of state terrorism’, calls for shutdown

school teacher Rizwan Asad Pandith of Awantipora who was killed in custody.

‘People will observe a complete and comprehensive protest strike on Wednesday, March 20’

Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has strongly condemned the custodial killing of 28-year-old school teacher Rizwan Asad Pandith of Awantipora.

‘Pandith was picked up by the SOG and NIA a few days ago and has been brutally killed in custody at SOG camp Cargo today,” JRL has said.

JRL expressed sympathy with his bereaved family. Terming this brutal killing as gruesome, JRL said that this custodial killing is not only one of its kind but prior to this, hundreds and thousands of young and old Kashmiris have been killed in this manner.

JRL said that this killing has actually increased the vulnerability of Kashmiri inmates languishing in different jails of India and jails of Jammu Kashmir, and jeopardized their lives.

Announcing a comprehensive protest program against this ‘state terrorism’, JRL said that people will observe a complete and comprehensive protest strike on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, against the gruesome custodial killing of Rizwan Asad, Policies of intimidation and harassment by police, SOG and other Indian investigative agencies, arbitrary arrests, slapping of draconian PSA, summoning political activists to SOG camps and thus creating atmosphere of fear in Jammu Kashmir.

On Thursday, March 21, JRL appealed all segments of society including Traders, lawyers, bar association, civil society, and others from different walks of life to peacefully protest against the custodial killing and assaults on Kashmiris.

On Friday, March 22, 2019, after Friday prayers, people at all Masajid, Khanqahs and Imam Baras will raise their voices peacefully against this custodial killing by NIA and SOG and continuing policy of oppression unleashed by India.

As soon as the news of the custodial death of Rizwan Pandith, a teacher in Awantipora reached the area, intense clashes erupted and a spontaneous shutdown was observed.

Reports said that all shops and other commercial establishments remained closed in the area while traffic went off the roads soon after news of death of Rizwan Pandith reached there.

Pandith, who was arrested by the police in a ‘militancy-related case’, died in police custody at CARGO camp in Srinagar last night, a spokesman said in a statement.

Reacting to the development, Omar Abdullah demanded exemplary punishment to those responsible for the death of Pandith.

PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti while reacting over the custodial death of the Awantipora youth said that GoI’s repressive approach has left young educated men vulnerable who are forced to take up arms. 

Peoples Conference Chief Sajad Lone in his reaction said that ‘this is what sanctity of human life has been reduced to in Kashmir.’

 

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