SRINAGAR: Efforts of the multiparty Hurriyat Conference to cut off differences between militant outfits received a setback with the killing of a top Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Tariq Sheikh.
Bullet-ridden body of Tariq was recovered from Chanapora Mohalla of the outskirts of the city last week.
Tension gripped the city as the word spread about the murder which heightened further with the death of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant leader Ghulam Nabi, while in the custody of security forces.
There was instant hartal in Chanapora and Kungan areas, to which Tariq and Tahir belongs, JKLF sympathizer took out a demonstration in the city, There was also reported to be firing in the downtown areas.
JKLF describe Tariq’s killing as a “dastardly,” act. It said it was the “handiwork of group that had recently issued threat to his lie.” It avoided naming any group.
On the other hand, HM sought to dispel the immediate impression that was behind the killing, I condemned the murder as a “grave loss” and offered cooperation to JKLF for identifying the culprits.
JKLF left it to Hurriyat Conference to decide the matter HM has given a call for strike in the valley in protest against what it described as Tahir’s custodial murder. Official sources said Tahir was killed while trying to escape from the custody by breaking a window.
Meanwhile the valley is cut off from the rest of the country, its roads and air links were stopped because of bad weather. All Nights in and out of Srinagar were cancelled. Landslides on the way have already blocked the Srinagar Jammu highway.
Flight cancellation upset the schedule of a group of human night activists and secessionists leader who are to visit Delhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 15, 1994
