Srinagar: The moderate separatist leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq faced hostile crowd in North Kashmir’s Sopore town on Friday.
Mirwaiz was in the town to address Friday congregation prayers at Khankahi Moula Shrine in Sopore. After Friday prayers, Mirwaiz addressed people outside the shrine. He said certain elements were conspiring against Muslims to keep them away from teachings and principals of Islam.
“The religious scholars of Kashmir were united to fight against the evil forces,” he said and warned people about the vested interests who in the name of culture or sect want to divide people.
He stressed on India to give up its rigid stand on Kashmir and allow people of J&K to determine their fate. “We would continue our peaceful struggle,” he said.
While he had completed his address, some youth in the gathering objected to his security cover. They asked him why he was carrying policemen with him. “Several separatist leaders have visited Sopore and none of them was carrying security cover. Why are you being escorted by Indian policemen,” they questioned.
Mirwaiz opted to leave the place silently. As he was leaving the venue, youth hurled stones and kangri towards his escort vehicles.
The youth also chanting slogans in favour of Geelani like “Kaun karega tarjumani, Syed Ali Shah Geelani”.
A police official said Mirwaiz’s escort vehicles were stoned by some youth and police has registered a case and launched investigations.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman has said the attack on Mirwaiz in Sopore is unfortunate and condemnable.
“This is one more manifestation of hooliganism perpetrated by the elements hell-bent to throttle the dissenting voice. The same elements have previously also beaten a shopkeeper, Tariq Ahmad Bhat, at Nowhatta when he defied their dictates to shutdown his shop in down town area,” he said.
He said some miscreants pelted stones and kangris on Mirwaiz’s vehicle in Sopore.
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