Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 18: Government today released moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from his 57-day long house detention after which he delivered Friday sermon at historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of summer capital here.
The restrictions on the Mirwaiz were lifted today morning and subsequently in the noon he arrived at Jama Masjid for delivering weekly sermon before congregational Friday prayers. In his address, Mirwaiz said Kashmir problem won’t be resolved by killing militants. “Each day young educated boys are being killed and there is a belief in some sitting in New Delhi that once all of them are killed the problem will be over. “But those who think this shouldn’t forget that these boys took to arms as a reaction to repression and for the resolution of the dispute,” he said, adding that by killing one militant, ten more will stand up and tread path of militancy. Mirwaiz said that for the past 70 years people of Kashmir were born, raised, lived and died with the fact that Kashmir is a disputed place waiting a final resolution.
The moderate Hurriyat chief said that people of Jammu and Kashmir are awaiting final resolution to put an end to the uncertainty, of which they are victims and which is a root cause of their immense sufferings, death and destruction and hatred among people of the subcontinent.
Soon after prayers were over in Jama Masjid, dozens of youth resorted to stone-pelting on security forces deployed on the gates of Jama Masjid. The security men retaliated with teargas canisters and pellet firing. Two persons were injured in the clashes. The situation later normalized in the area but business activities were affected.
While the overall situation across Kashmir remained peaceful, but clashes raged at Hajin town of Bandipora district and Sopore town of Baramulla district between youth protesters and security forces after Friday prayers. At Chadoora in Budgam district, locals held a peaceful protest march to mourn killing of Hizbul Mujahideen operational commander Yasin Yatoo.
Follow our WhatsApp channel