Nazim Rashid case: Sopore protesters force Peoples Democratic Party leaders to turn back

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders were prevented from offering condolences to the family of Nazim Rashid who was allegedly killed in police custody in Sopore.

Scores of people created a human wall and physically prevented the leaders, including 18 MLAs and MLCs, to enter Nazim’s residence.

Amid pro-freedom slogans, some PDP legislators were pushed and their cars smashed. Personal security officers had to fire in the air to get them out of the area safely.

Nazim’s family asked the PDP legislators not to do politics over dead bodies.

The PDP legislators had met at the residence of senior vice-president Molvi Ifthikar Hussian Ansari in Srinagar and decided to visit Nazim’s family.

This followed the house arrest of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who was not allowed to march to Sopore twice.

“The government is trying to enforce the silence of a graveyard. There is a growing alienation among the people. The government has registered an FIR against 5,000 youth,” Naem Akthar, PDP spokesman said.

Even as PDP leaders were facing a wrath, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwiaz Umar Farooq threatened another agitation if human right abuses were not stopped and the cordon at their residence was not lifted.

Mirwaiz said the government was interfering into religious affairs by placing him under house arrest and preventing him from fulfilling his religious responsibilities as the head cleric of Kashmir.