‘No place for freedom of speech and expression in JK’

Srinagar, Nov 19 (KNS): Expressing strong resentment over the continuous arrest of leaders and activists, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) on Thursday said the present administration surpassed all the records of tyranny and brutality of its predecessors.

“At the behest of so-called rulers, the police has unleashed such a reign of terror in the state that every soul considers itself in a virtual jail,” a DFP spokesperson said in a statement to KNS.

Lashing out at state administration, the spokesperson said the reports of fresh arrests are reaching from nook and corner of the state.

“The pro-freedom leadership and activists are being arrested in nocturnal raids and the house inmates are harassed.  Everyone is feeling insecure. This is a big blow on the claims of the so-called champions of democracy,” he said.

He strongly condemned the continuous house arrest of Syed Ali Geelani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Zafar Akbar Bhat.

“Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi, Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Ayaz Akbar are continuously kept in police stations,” the spokesperson said, adding that such curbs cannot break the resolve of pro-freedom leadership.

He said every genuine voice in the state is suppressed and choked and there is no place for the freedom of speech and expression.

The DFP spokesperson expressed serious concern over the arrest of party activists from Islamabad, Pulwama, Srinagar, Sopore, Kulgam, Shopian and other areas and the nocturnal raids on their residences.

“Freedom Party’s Naseer Ahmad (Sopore), Bashir Ahmad, Muhammad Amin and others are kept detained in police stations for weeks and are treated very badly there,” the spokesperson added. (KNS)