Srinagar: Castigating Budgam police and civil administration for using what he called “brute force” on mourners during Muharram procession, senior National Conference leader and former Minister Aga Syed Ruhulllah Mehdi on Thursday said that the behaviour of police is unacceptable and no Muslim can tolerate interference in the religious affairs.
“If Police won’t shun its arrogance and don’t respect the sentiments of people, then there are other ways to deal with them,” Ruhullah told a local news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Terming the police behaviour “oppressive”, Ruhullah said: “bullet and use of brute force is not an answer to the sentiments of Muslims. Yesterday’s use of force on mourners made it clear that this police is not meant for people. It happens only where there is imperialism and dictatorship.”
Ruhullah said that as the COVID epidemic is going on, SOP’s need to be followed but for that purpose administration must take people into confidence.
“An organization that asked people not to carry out Muharram processions didn’t consult mourners. I don’t want to go into that. I am hurt over the unruly behavior exhibited by police and administration,” he said.
He added that anything is possible with cooperation but you can’t force people into submission using force.
Giving example, he said that Prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar were made possible because of the people-administration cooperation, but in Budgam, mourners were not taken into confidence, instead they were “ruthlessly suppressed.”
The @JmuKmrPolice Budgam’s today’s behaviour in Budgam is completely unacceptable did not go unnoticed.
I may have my own opinions about processions and SOPs related to it. But this rogue behaviour in shape on flexing mussels and firing on mourners is un expectable.— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) August 26, 2020
“Today’s behaviour in Budgam is completely unacceptable did not go unnoticed. I may have my own opinions about processions and SOPs related to it. But this rogue behaviour in shape on (of) flexing mussels and firing on mourners is un expectable (unacceptable). Check your officer incharge’s behaviour before it is too late,” Rahullah conveyed to police,” Ruhullah wrote on his Twitter handle.
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