Geelani to address rally in Anantnag on May 21: Hurriyat (G)

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, will address a public gathering in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on May 21, a spokesman said on Saturday. “The public gathering is part of the awareness campaign launched by the Hurriyat to secure the release of political prisoners, and thousands of people are expected to participate in the rally, if the authorities do not create any disturbance,” the spokesman said.Meanwhile, rejecting the police claim that it had arrested five members of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in Pattan area of north Kashmir, the spokesman said the incident was reminiscent of the Machil fake encounter, because “ in this case too innocent youth have been made the scapegoats for the sake of medals and promotions.”“Lawlessness prevailing in Kashmir and men in uniform harassing the ordinary civilians is an eye-opener for justice loving people. Coercing innocent people to admit to crimes through torture is commonplace in Kashmir these days. These tactics expose Omar Abdullah’s claims that no custodial torture took place during his tenure,” the spokesman said.“The saddest part in all this is that these false claims are not made by low-rung police officers but by the top police brass in press conferences,” the spokesman said, adding that such “tactics had badly dented the image of police.”“In civilized societies, police stands for the protection and security of ordinary people, but name of Jammu and Kashmir police conjures images of torture, harassment, arrests, etc.”The spokesman said Geelani will address a seminar in Anantnag district on May 21 at 2:30 p.m.
103 cross sides on LoC via PoonchSrinagar: As many as 103 persons including 20 fresh visitors from twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri crossed side along the Line of Control through weekly Poonch-Rawalakote bus services between parts of divided Kashmir on Monday.Official sources told that 37 visitors from Pakistan administered Kashmir arrived via Chakandabagh crossing point in Poonch when gate opened this afternoon. There was no returnee from this part of the Kashmir on board the bus, they said.  Forty-six Pak returnees were on board the bus when it left for the Rawalakote, they said, adding that 20 fresh visitors from this side of the divide were also on board it, they added.