Protests mark Human Rights Day in Kashmir

Pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik was detained by the state police on Saturday evening while leading a candlelight protest in Srinagar.
 
An independent legislator, Engineer Abdul Rashid, was also detained by the police while he staged a protest sit-in outside the United Nations Military Observers Group headquarters in Srinagar along with a dozen of his supporters.
 
Malik took out a silent candlelight protest in his stronghold Maisuma locality near the city centre in Lal Chowk.
 
Several of his supporters joined Malik in his protest which coincided with the World Human Rights Day on Saturday.
 
Malik was detained and shifted to the local police station.
 
The independent legislator from Langate constituency in north Kashmir, Engineer Abdul Rashid, staged a protest sit-in outside the UNMOG headquarters at Sonwar in Srinagar.
 
Police intervened to disperse the protestors and took the legislator into preventive custody along with some of his supporters.
 
The parents of disappeared persons also staged protests to highlight their plight on World Human Rights Day.
 
Moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed a seminar in Srinagar to highlight the 'deteriorating human rights situation in the state'.
 
The Mirwaiz said, "Kashmir is a political issue and needs to be resolved and addressed'.
 
He added, "The Indian civil society and social activists could play their role to highlight the plight of Kashmir nation".

Image: A candle-light protest in Srinagar to mark World Human Rights Day | Photograph: Umar Ganie