In the aftermath of Sanjay Sharma’s murder in Pulwama, yesterday, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), led by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed grief and sorrow on his killing.
Condemning the gruesome act, it expressed sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family.
The APHC said that the killing of human beings in such a manner is a tragedy that Kashmir has been witnessing for the past three and a half decades now, with no seeming end in near future.
The state policy of extreme repression and unilateral interventions countered by equally extreme and viscous vengeance is a vortex we have got caught in, leading to the extreme suffering of Kashmiris of all hues, APHC said in a statement.
“In this situation, Kashmiri pandits living in Kashmir unfortunately have become sitting ducks. Besides, in the prevailing coercive environment with no space for outreach, contact among communities and people is also fast disappearing.”
APHC said that after political disempowerment, economic assault is systematically being foisted on the people of J&K . As the eviction and demolition drive has been put on hold, new taxes are being imposed on people, still recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19.
Arbitrary dismissals of Kashmiris from government service by authorities also continue with three more state employees dismissed yesterday, stated APHC.
Maintaining that such policies only exacerbate the situation, APHC said that authorities should reconsider all these measures rather than continue with them.
“People of J&K majority and the minorities, like people all over, have every right to life, their resources and economic decisions.”