Srinagar: A day after voters were thrashed and stripped in North Kashmir by groups of youth, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani Friday expressed his displeasure over the incidents and appealed people to maintain calm.
In a video appeal posted on YouTube, the octogenarian leader said: “There are reports of Sopore traders being asked to shut shops in Handwara and people from Kupwara and Handwara being troubled, this is unpleasant and is against the ethos of Islam and our nation.”
Groups of youth on Thursday in Baramulla town and Sopore area had stripped and thrashed voters from Kupwara district which saw a high voter turnout on Wednesday. The glasses of many vehicles were also smashed.
Reports said today traders from Sopore were asked to shut their shops in Handwara and were asked to retreat.
Geelani said: “The voting process was over and we must live like brothers and must not indulge in activities that can lead to a civil war.”
He said: “Such acts would help India’s designs on Kashmir and I appeal to all the people especially youth to refrain from such acts and live in peace.”
The resistance leader, who is under house arrest since his return from Indian capital in April, said: “I hope everyone listens to my appeal and my Allah help us to come out of the oppression.” (GNS)