UJC asks militants to suspend activities
Day after asking militants to stay away from public rallies, the United Jihad Council (UJC) – an amalgam of several militant outfits operating in J&K, on Friday asked the militants operating in Kashmir to temporarily halt their militant activities in the mainland.
However, the militants have been asked to continue with their attacks on forces in mountainous and other isolated regions-where there is no public movement. The UJC statement quoting its Secretary General Sheikh Jameel-u- Rehman, who was addressing a gathering of militants in Pakistan side of Kashmir, said the militants should for the time being stop attacking the security forces in the mainland of Kashmir, keeping in the view the ongoing mass movement in the valley.
“To ensure safety of our people, who are presently holding mass rallies, demonstrations and protests on streets, you (militants) should refrain from attacking forces in both rural and urban areas. Otherwise the masses will have to face the atrocities and violence at the hands of Indian forces. The Indian Army will get a chance to harass people and later justify it. However, the militants can carry with their attacks wherever they get a chance in isolated areas like mountains,” said the Deputy of UJC Supremo Syed Salahudin.
Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani on July 8, there has been no militant strike or any encounter in the mainland.
According to several media reports, militants have also dumped their weapons and are actively participating in the public rallies. Several militant had appeared at various public rallies. In Bijbehara- the hometown of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, several militants appeared in open and addressed a huge public gathering where they also appealed people to stay united and follow the programmes announced by the Hurriyat leadership led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. Rehman, who is also the chief of militant outfit Tehreek-ul-Muja hideen, said the current wave of “freedom uprising” isn’t limited to the Kashmir valley only, but has reached to Kargil, Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and other areas. “The people of Kashmir have once again given a befitting reply to India that they can’t hold this region for lone,” he said.
He has also appealed to the people to stay united at this crucial phase of the movement.