Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers in absentia of a victim of enforced disappeared person, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, at Rawalpora in Srinagar.
Hurriyet leaders including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik participated in the funeral. Tehreek-e-Hurriyet leader Bashir Ahmad Butt led the funeral. Manzoor Ahmad Dar had gone missing during the custody of Indian Army on this day in 2002. The family members of Manzoor Ahmad Dar presume him dead on the basis of some information and had called for offering his funeral prayers. The people waved Pakistani flags and shouted pro-freedom slogans, on the occasion. This prompted Indian forces to use brute force on the protesters.
The authorities put Hurriyet leader, Zafar Akbar Butt under house arrest to prevent him from attending the funeral.
The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani who is ailing for the past several days in an interview at his residence in Srinagar said that the continued house arrest was badly affecting his health. Syed Ali Gilani is suffering from chest congestion and is undergoing treatment at his residence. The veteran leader said that he was under continued house arrest since 2010 and even now when he was unable to walk properly he was still under house detention.
Hurriyet leaders Yasmeen Raja and Muhammad Yousuf Mir addressing meetings, while, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Farida Behanji and Farooq Ahmad Tawheedi in their statements in Srinagar demanded impartial probe into all massacres perpetrated by Indian troops in the territory.
Meanwhile, the people of Kashmir are being harassed by the personnel of Indian Army and police in the name of so-called security measures days ahead of Indian Republic Day on 26th January. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in and outside Srinagar airport and people are subjected to vigorous searches at all entry and exit points of Srinagar.