I will expose killers-Yasin Malik—Srinagar/April 8; The President of Jamiat Ahilhadees, Moulana Showket Ahmed, was killed in a mine blast in Maisuma here shortly before Friday prayers. One civilian was also seriously injured in the blast.
Eyewitnesses said, as soon Shah reached in Maisuma locality at around 12:35 pm to offer Friday prayers, a makeshift mine kept in a cycle went off injuring him critically along with a civilian.
He was rushed to SMHS Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Soon after the news about Shah’s death spread shops and business establishments were closed in Srinagar city.
Demonstrations marked with a shutdown were held in Maisuma and its adjoining areas after Friday prayers to protest against the killing of the veteran leader. After the incident, reports said, youth resorted to stone pelting in several areas of the city.
Shah’s nimaz-e-jinazah was held in Lal Chowk in which thousands of people participated. Later thousands of mourners carrying his body marched towards his Lal Bazar residence. He would be buried in Martyr’s graveyard Eidgah here later in the evening.
Meanwhile, reports said, Government has sounded red alert to thwart any untoward incident in the Valley.
Shah, 55, was considered as a close aide of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Mohammad Yasin Malik. Earlier in 2008, some unknown persons had hurled a grenade at his Lal Bazar residence.
Both factions of the Hurriyat have called for a general strike on Saturday to protest the killing while the JKLF has called for two-day strike.
Meanwhile JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik today said he will unveil the killers of his close friend and Jamiat-e-Ahlay-Hadees president Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah.
“The death of Shah has broken our back. I will not rest till I unveil his killers,” Malik said addressing mourners at Lal chowk here.
Kashmiri people will not remain a silent spectator to the killing of their leader,” he said
On the other hand, cutting across party lines and ideological divide, the killing of Jamiat Ahilhadees President, Moulana Showket Ahmed, Friday, drew widespread condemnation.
The Hurriyat Conference (G) while condemning the incident termed it as an ‘act of terrorism.’
Hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said, “Whoever has done it, is a terrorist. This is an act against the freedom struggle of Kashmir and an act against the religion of Islam. There can’t be enough words to condemn this incident.”
Condemning the religious leader’s killing Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the killing ‘an inhuman act.’
Peoples Democratic Party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and its president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the incident.
“This killing is another painful addition to the larger Kashmir tragedy when the society in Kashmir is fighting a grim battle for their rights and have strongly rejected violence as a means to achieve political goals,” they said in a statement.
The Finance Minister, A R Rather while expressing grief and sorrow over the tragic death of Shah said, “He (Shah) was a staunch believer that service to humanity is real service to the God and never compromised on principles. He dedicated his entire life for the service of humanity and advocated for upholding moral values to cleanse the society from social evils.”
The Minister for Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar described Shah as one of the prominent religious luminaries of the State. Sagar said that he always stood for upholding the values of truth and justice and believed in service to humanity irrespective of any preferential treatment.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani while condemning the killing described it great lost to the society. He said the elements behind the act have exhibited their inhuman behaviour towards the society.
Expressing profound grief over Shah’s killing, CPI (M) state secretary, M Y Tarigami, said, “The killing is a heinous and barbaric act. This is a big tragedy for all the people as the religious luminary was a highly respected in the society. Words fail to condemn this barbaric murder. Only enemies of Kashmir benefit from such heinous acts.”
Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti, a body of Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley, said in a statement, “It will be written as one of the black days in the history of Kashmir when such a great Ulema of Kashmir got killed in a cowardice act.”
The organisation also demanded that the union and state governments book the culprits who are behind this heinous act.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Samoon also condemned the killing. He expressed grief and sorrow and also expressed his sympathies with the bereaved family.
————————Bashir Assad—————–