Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a constituent of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has expressed serious concern over the plight of illegally detained Kashmiris languishing in different jails of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and India.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the DFP spokesman, Advocate Arshad Iqbal, in a statement issued in Srinagar said the Kashmiri detainees continue to suffer due to non-provision of basic facilities including medical care and hygienic food in the jails. He said on one hand, the Indian government is using detention as a tool to suppress the Kashmiris’ legitimate political voices, while on the other, Indian troops are killing innocent Kashmiris with impunity.

The spokesman condemned the continued illegal detention of innocent Kashmiris including party President Shabbir Ahmed Shah, and other Hurriyat leaders like APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, and Aasiya Andrabi. He said that the Hurriyat leaders were being punished and persecuted for spearheading the Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.

The spokesman lamented that besides the Hurriyat leaders, human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society were being victimized for their work of documenting and reporting the grave human rights violations perpetrated by Indian troops in the occupied territory.

He also denounced the arrest of seven Kashmiri students by the occupation authorities under black law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for celebrating India’s defeat against Australia in the Cricket World Cup final. He said that educated Kashmiri youth were being harassed, humiliated and tortured every now and then by the Indian authorities just for cheering and celebrating the victory of their favorite cricket teams and performance of the players of their choice against India. The spokesman appealed to the United Nations and international human rights organizations to impress upon the Indian government to release all the Kashmiri prisoners.

Meanwhile, APHC-AJK leader and Vice Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Pir Panjal Freedom Movement, Qazi Imran, addressing a function at the Mang Bajri migrant camp in Bagh city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir strongly denounced the Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir. He reaffirmed the Kashmiris’ resolve to continue their struggle to secure freedom from Indian yoke. He said one day India will have to end its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.