HR violations have increased dangerously in Kashmir: Geelani

Srinagar, June 2 (UNI) Breakaway Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has alleged that the human rights violations have ''increased dangerously'' in the Valley after Ghulam Nabi Azad became the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

''There has been a drastic and dangerous increase in the killings of innocent civilians and the human rights abuses after Mr Azad assumed the office of the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir,'' Mr Geelani said in a statement here.

He also condemned the use of civilians as human shield by the Army in Bandipora area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district during an encounter on Friday.

Mr Geelani condemned the killing of a youth allegedly by the CRPF at Munawarabad here on the intervening night of June 30-July 1.

Several other parties also condemned the killing. Moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said such killings render the dialogue process meaningless.

National Conference President Omar Abdullah condemned the Bandipora and Munawarabad incidents, saying such killings were against justice and democracy.

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