Police today foiled the protest march of Awami Itehaad Party (AIP) and detained the party chief and MLA Langate, Engineer Abdul Rasheed Sheikh along with scores of his activists when they tried to march towards commercial Hub Lal Chowk to mark a protest against the government for issuing domicile certificates to West Pakistan Refugees.
The protesters led by AIP chief marched from Sher-e-Kashmir Park towards commercial hub Lal Chowk and chanting slogans against the state government.
The protesting party demanded revocation of the government decision.
Talking to media persons, Er Abdul Rasheed said termed the government decision of issuing domicile certificates to West Pakistan Refugees as ‘a ploy of changing the demography of the state’.
Rasheed accused New Delhi of pushing Kashmiris to the wall and added that people of J&K will never succumb to the dirty tactics of New Delhi.
While appealing people of Jammu to understand that granting domicile to WPRs will harm more interests of Jammu people, Rasheed said “all efforts to change the demography of state and resettle non-state subjects will be fought tooth and nail. Despite the fact that the issue is a desperate attack to change the Muslim character of the state, the decision would affect the rights of Dogras in Jammu region as well”.
MLA Langate further said that they will hold 48 hour long sit in outside Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s Srinagar residence on tomorrow.
“The protest will be organised to remind her that she cannot run away by justifying every shameless disasters act,” Rashid said.
Meanwhile, as soon as the protesters tried to march towards commercial hub Lal Chowk, police swung into action and detained scores of AIP activists along with its president, Er Rashid who were lodged at Police Station Kothi Bagh.
The spokesman later said that “at least eight protestors were injured in the scuffle and police dragged dozens of protestors including Er Rasheed and lodged them in PS Kothibagh, where they were abused and manhandled by the cops.”
He said that “three of the injured persons were shifted to hospital.”
(PTK)