Curfew and restrictions continue to paralyse Kashmir for the 30th consecutive day to contain violence and protests that erupted after Hizbul militant Burhan Wani’s killing last month. It has now emerged that the dead terrorist’s father, Muzaffar Wani is the new leader of the ‘Azadi’ movement in the Valley, overshadowing established separatist voices like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz.
According to a report in Times of India, more people turned up to hear Muzaffar on Friday, ignoring a call by the Hurriyat factions to march to Hazratbal in Srinagar.
On Friday, separatists Geelani with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had called for ‘Dargah chalo’. But the response to their appeal was very thin.
It is believed that Muzaffar, accompanied by several armed militants, was the centre of attraction at the protest in Pampore.
Eyewitnesses say that Muzaffar told the crowd that “after losing his two sons in the fight against India occupation, he is now ready to sacrifice his daughter”.
Burhan Wani’s brother Khalid was killed in cross-firing between militants and security forces in 2010.
Militants who were accompanying Muzaffar also appealed the protestors not to pelt stoens at security forces and private vehicles “which would lead to more killings”.
Separatists have already extended their protest shutdown till August 12. The separatists have been issuing weekly protest calendars since the ongoing violence began in the valley on July 9, a day after Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces.
At least 55 people including 53 civilians and two policemen have been killed so far in the violence.
All educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities as well as public transport and business establishments have remained closed.
