‘Not counter-terrorism but collective retribution’: In Kashmir, anger mounts over mass detentions in wake of ex-soldier’s killing

“I person been briefed astir reports of implicit 500 individuals being rounded up by the SOG successful sweeping nocturnal raids crossed Kashmir. The fig is suspected to beryllium overmuch higher successful actuality,” Ruhullah said successful a station connected X. “I neglect to ideate the panic of a household whose loved ones present prevarication successful the abyss of an opaque information system. This is not security. This is punishment by exile.”

The National Conference leader, who has taken a hardline stance since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s peculiar status, pitting him against his ain enactment astatine times, added, “I unequivocally condemn the onslaught connected the Territorial Army worker and his family. Violence, particularly against women and children, is abhorrent. But to punish an full colonisation for the crimes of a fewer is not counterterrorism – it is corporate retribution.”

Ruhullah called for statement betwixt New Delhi and the elected authorities successful Jammu and Kashmir connected information operations. “The constitution successful Kashmir and successful Delhi request to get astatine a communal denominator arsenic acold arsenic conducting operations successful Kashmir is concerned,” helium said. “The usage of vague, legally unsound terminology specified arsenic ‘OGWs (overground workers)’, ‘Hybrid Militants’, etc to warrant quality rights violations indispensable beryllium shunned,” helium wrote.

Ruhullah said that nary authorities successful the satellite has successfully governed a colonisation by making itself the entity of its people’s fearfulness and resentment. “I powerfully punctual you of the motivation calculus astatine play present – if you indispensable regularisation by repression, past you person already mislaid your legitimacy,” helium said. “If your thought of ideology is simply a vale silenced by fearfulness alternatively than engaged successful dialogue, past your ideology lies successful darkness.”

On the nighttime betwixt Monday and Tuesday, J&K Police detained implicit 500 radical from crossed the Kashmir valley.

A ample fig of the radical detained by the constabulary are the household members and relatives of the Kashmiri militants based successful Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This is the archetypal clip that radical person been detained connected specified a ample standard pursuing a militant attack. Police sources said the purpose was to “send a message” to the militants that “such attacks wouldn’t beryllium tolerated”.

Hurriyat president and the valley’s main clergyman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the detentions “unprecedented”.

“Every specified sidesplitting and causing wounded to innocents is condemnable, but to people and detain successful hundreds household members and relatives of those associated with militancy, due to the fact that of their relationship, is harassment,” Mirwaiz said. “It vitiates the ambiance and furthers hostility. Authorities should merchandise these radical immediately.”

Communist person M Y Tarigami said, “While the sidesplitting of guiltless radical deserves strongest condemnation, subjecting an full assemblage to corporate punishment is unjust and unacceptable.”

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