In a first, JK police issues denial of strike call by separatists

As a poster was published on the twitter account of hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani asking people to observe complete strike on July 8 and 13, Jammu and Kashmir police have denied the statement for the first time. Regarding this, Geelani said that he would no longer be responsible or answerable for the conduct of the various Hurriyat constituents who have disappointed him.

Srinagar: For the first time, Jammu and Kashmir police have denied a statement issued by separatist leadership in Kashmir calling for a shutdown.

According to reports, a poster was published on the twitter account of hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani citing for people to observe complete strike on July 8 and 13 but he has dissociated himself from a strike call issued in his name from across the border.

In a statement, the police said the family sources of Geelani have said the letter purportedly issued by the octogenarian separatist leader is a ‘fake’ and has not been issued by him. Police are taking action against those who are circulating it through different social media platforms to instigate violence and create L&O problems.

• Observe complete strike on July 8 and July 13 and hold prayer meetings at Mazar-i-Shuhada across Jammu & Kashmir. Organise “Day with a Martyr’s Family” on July 8 in your localities. pic.twitter.com/JxcitV4jPK

  — Syed Ali Geelani (Official) (@GeelaniOfficial) July 6, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Observe complete strike on July 8 and July 13 and hold prayer meetings at Mazar-i-Shuhada across Jammu & Kashmir. Organise “Day with a Martyr’s Family” on July 8 in your localities. pic.twitter.com/JxcitV4jPK

  — Syed Ali Geelani (Official) (@GeelaniOfficial) July 6, 2020

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  Observe complete strike on July 8 and July 13 and hold prayer meetings at Mazar-i-Shuhada across Jammu & Kashmir. Organise “Day with a Martyr’s Family” on July 8 in your localities. pic.twitter.com/JxcitV4jPK

  — Syed Ali Geelani (Official) (@GeelaniOfficial) July 6, 2020

Police have also filed FIR against those who have circulated the poster about shutdown call on social media.

“In this regard, a case FIR No 265/2020 under section 13 ULA(P) Act, 505/IPC has been registered in PS Budgam. Further investigation is in progress,” police said.

Since August 5, when Article 370 was read down and erstwhile state was divided into two union territories, this is the first time that any separatist leader has called for a shutdown in Kashmir.

On July 8, in 2016, Hizbul Mujahideen young commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in an encounter in Bamdoru village of Kokernag area in Anantnag district.

On July 13, 1931, 22 civilians were killed by the then Dogra forces who revolted against its rule. Every year, July 13 was observed by the successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir as ‘Martyr’s Day’ and a government holiday was announced on this day. However, the holiday has been discarded off in the new holiday calendar issued by the government this year after the abrogation of Article 370.

Sources told ETV Bharat that on Tuesday morning a team of police officials went to his Geelani’s home in Hyderpora Srinagar to check the veracity of the shutdown poster.

Later, police came out with the statement on twitter quoting that Geelani's “family sources” denied that the letter has not issued by Geelani. It is to be noted that Geelani has already resigned from the separatist conglomerate, All Party Hurriyat Conference.

He had also issued a letter explaining the reasons for quitting Hurriyat and had said that his representative in Pakistan administrative Kashmir will be representing him. The resignation statement and the letter were issued from the same Twitter handle which has announced strike call.