Published: February 27, 2008
Lawyers Boycott Courts in Kashmir
By Fayaz Wani
Srinagar, Feb 27: Lawyers today stayed away from courts in Kashmir to lodge their protest against what they termed the continued human rights violations taking place across the violence-hit Kashmir.
Hundreds of lawyers under the banner of Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) took out a procession from the lower court in Srinagar. Carrying placards and banners the lawyers were demanding an end to human rights violations in Kashmir.
They alleged that the human rights violation in Kashmir is taking place despite the Zero Tolerance promise by the Indian prime minister. "The Indian forces deployed in Kashmir are letting loose a reign of terror and have made people miserable in far flung and rural areas," they added.
The lawyers demanded an end to human rights violations.
Raising anti-India and pro-freed slogans, the lawyers tried to march towards the United Nations Military observer's group's office at Sonawar, 2 kms from Srinagar. A police contingent deployed at the site intercepted them at city centre and prevented them from moving ahead. They arrested two dozen lawyers and were detained in a local police station.
The lawyers stayed away from the court throughout the day.
They demanded that Indian army should be withdrawn from Kashmir and that the people be allowed right to self determination to determine their fate.
Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.