SRINAGAR: Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Shabbir Ahmed Shah, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing bloodshed and human rights violations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah, currently detained in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, highlighted the recent acts of state terrorism in the region, particularly the targeting of innocent youth in the Kashmir valley.
In a statement, Shah pointed out that during so-called security operations, innocent civilians, particularly young people, were intentionally labeled as “militants” and deliberately targeted by Indian occupation forces. He criticized the Indian government for unleashing its forces to quell dissent while giving agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a free hand to target and silence political activists and members of civil society who dared to challenge the government’s directives.
Shabbir Shah emphasized that the attachment and confiscation of properties belonging to Hurriyat leaders were part of the Indian government’s campaign to suppress legitimate political voices in Kashmir. He drew parallels with the Israeli settler colonialism model and stated that the Modi regime continued to seize Kashmiri lands and properties, creating an atmosphere of fear to subjugate the local population. He also mentioned the unjust termination of government employees on frivolous grounds.
However, Shah made it clear that such oppressive tactics employed by New Delhi would not deter the Kashmiri people from pursuing their collective goal of freedom. He called upon the international community and human rights organizations to take effective notice of the ongoing bloodshed, violence, persecution, and victimization of political leaders and activists in the region.
Shah also expressed grave concern over the rapidly growing drug problem in the Kashmir valley, which he labeled as a deep-rooted conspiracy against the Kashmiri population. He accused the drug mafia of operating with government patronage, transforming the valley into a hub of drug activity. Shah noted that innocent individuals, especially the youth, were being lured into drug addiction, posing a significant threat to the well-being and future of the Kashmiri people.
