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Disarm, disband VDCs immediately: Geelani

YUSRA HUSSAIN. Dated: 8/1/2013 12:31:09 AM

SRINAGAR, July 31: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), has demanded immediate disarming and disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs).
In a statement, he alleged that the criminal activities of officials of VDCs have increased making the lives of people in Doda and other districts of Jammu miserable. Geelani expressed shock and grief over the killing of a 16 year old student allegedly by VDC members in Doda district. “One week after the gang rape and murder of a minor Muslim girl in Kishtwar, the VDC men committed the murder,” he said.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman alleged that Omar Abdullah government has given a free hand to the VDCs and is not interested in taking action against them fearing displeasure by Sangh Parivar forces.
Geelani expressed the apprehension that VDC men can be behind the stone pelting on the houses of Muslims during night by veiled persons in Doda and Kishtwar and attacks and incidents of looting on people in those areas..
Hurriyat (G) chairman alleged that Muslim population is being harassed and terrorised so that they migrate from their areas. “This is a long term plan of RSS and Shiv Sena. VDCs instead of working on the directions of state administration are following the directives of communal parties who want to target Muslims in every respect. If immediate steps are not taken for the security and safety of Muslims in Jammu province, the communal forces can repeat the history of 1947 and massacre Muslims again,” Geelani alleged.
He stated that while VDCs have been given a free hand to commit crimes, the Muslim youth are framed in false cases and killed in fake encounters. He viewed that police has failed to create a sense of security among the people in the affected areas. The cops instead of taking action against them are patronizing them. Even the police stand, in the murder of the student, is not clear and is not accepting the demand of the people that the killers should be brought to justice.