Hurriyat leader Geelani leads mass protest in Srinagar

SRINAGAR - Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani led a demonstration in Srinagar’s Hyderpora locality in protest against the killing of youths in the Kashmir Valley.

A huge crowd, including many women and children, took part in the protest, raising anti-Indian and pro-freedom slogans.

Geelani said the ongoing agitation would continue until India accepts Kashmir as a disputed issue.

Geelani had issued a ten-day protest programme , on August 24 in order to strengthen the ongoing ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement’ by separatists.

Kashmir witnessed a return to routine life on August 24 after the state authorities lifted curfew restrictions.

On August 26, strict curfew restrictions were re-imposed by authorities in the Kashmir Valley in order to stop all demonstrations by separatist groups.

A curfew was initially imposed on June 30 in the region to stop demonstrations over a couple of protesters who died in police firing. It was lifted some days later, but was again imposed after fresh violence erupted.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing a surge of violence that has led the authorities to impose frequent curfew restrictions in several parts of Kashmir. By Fayaz Ahmad (ANI)