A joint protest demonstration against the recent firing by BSF in
Kashmir and the continuing curfew in the region was held today at
Jantar Mantar. AISA along with the Revolutionary Youth Association
(RYA), as well as representatives from the JNU Students’ Union
(JNUSU), Campus Front of India, Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity
Association, PUCL and the Save Sharmila campaign participated in the
protest.

“The brutal killing of protestors in Ramban by the BSF indicates that
in Kashmir, killing of civilian protestors has been equated ‘national
security’ and ‘democracy’. It is shameful that the people of Kashmir
have been denied the basic democratic right to raise their voices”,
said Sandipan from the AISA. “The Ramban massacre is merely the latest
in the saga of repression, rapes and the muzzling of democracy in
Kashmir”, he added.

Addressing the protestors, Piyush Raj, the JNUSU Joint Secretary said,
“The pattern we are seeing after the Ramban massacre is typical: first
protestors and civilians are fired at in complete violation of all
rules. Then they hide under the protective shield of the Armed Forces
Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and no action is taken against them. And in
order to quell the peoples’ genuine anger, curfew is imposed across
the region. This rule of terror by the army and paramilitary in
Kashmir has to end”. “Water cannons and lathis against protesters in
Delhi is rightly called police brutality, why are bullets against
unarmed protesters in Kashmir called ‘National Security’?”, asked
Saurav from the RYA.

All the organisations who participated in the protest demanded
repealing of the AFSPA, demilitarisation in civil areas and an end to
the rule of the terror by the Army and paramilitary forces in Kashmir.