Omar protest human rights abuses in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 16 : Hundreds of National Conference (NC) activists led by party chief Omar Abdullah staged a demonstration here in protest against the spurt in human rights violations allegedly by the security forces in the Kashmir valley.

The activists gathered in front of the Civil Secretariat here this morning and staged a sit-in against the alleged increase in human rights abuses and killing of innocent people, including tourists and labourers, in the Valley in recent past.

Mr Abdullah was joined by all the party legislators, including Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather.

Later, addresing the protestors, the NC President said the state government has failed on all fronts.

''The state government has failed to protect the lives of the innocent people. There has been an increase in violence in Kashmir in the recent past and the government had failed to take effective steps to check it,'' he alleged.

Mr Abdullah threatened statewide protests if the alleged human rights violations were not stopped immediately.

UNI