Mannan Bukhari Authored Scars of Pellets Released

Srinagar, Sep 05: Stressing upon the UN and international Human rights organization including the Amnesty International and ICRC to use their offices to immediately ban the use of pellet guns in Kashmir, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stated that it is the failure of the international community that while there is a worldwide ban on the use of the lethal pellet guns it stands completely violated in the state of J&K where the government forces use it indiscriminately against the unarmed civilians. Asserting that the government’s claim that the pellet gun is a non-lethal weapon, Hurriyat (M) chairman ridiculed the claim stating that scores of innocent people have been killed by it and hundreds have been critically injured and blinded by it. On the occasion of the book release function of “Kashmir-Scars of Pellet guns” compiled by senior Hurriyat leader and head of APHC Human Rights cell Abdul Manaan Bukhari, at Mumtaz towers, Mirwaiz lauded the efforts of Bukhari and his team on compiling facts figures and other aspects related to the grave issue of use of pellet guns. In his address Mirwaiz said that black laws like AFSPA, PSA and such and use of brute force was continuously employed by the state to suppress the legitimate struggle of the people of Kashmiri and the use of the internationally banned pellet guns, was a part of this strategy of suppression and subjugation. Mirwaiz said that it is sad and ironical that those people who in their so called election campaigns warned and scared people about the nefarious designs of the BJP and the RSS, joined hands with them in no time and became their collaborators for the sake of power and perks. Hurriyat (M) Chairman stated that the recent statement of RSS , the engine of BJP and now also the PDP, aptly exposes the strategies of the hindu right wing organistaion in relation to their Kashmir policy, adding, as such Kashmiris need to remain more vigilant and cautious and ready to face further hardships to resist their communal agenda. While speaking on the occasion, columnist Dr Javed Iqbal hailed Manan Bukhari for compiling and writing the book. He stated that the book highlights the human rights violations and brutal atrocities committed by government forces in Kashmir against the common Kashmiris. Noted activist Dr Altaf Hussain Mufti and Mr Manan Bukhari also spoke on the occasion. Senior Hurriyat leaders including Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Musadiq Adil, Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, and Abdul Qayoom were also present on the occasion of book release. Hurriyat political advisor Abdul Majid Banday moderated the session while respected citizens, media persons, intellectuals and galaxy of other people participated in the book release function.