Infants death: Geelani condemns stone-pelting

The death of a 10-day-old boy,Irfan,in stone-pelting in Baramulla on Monday has left little option for the separatists but to join in the condemnation of the growing incidents of stone-pelting in the state. And at the forefront is Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani who on Tuesday said that excessive and inexplicable stone-pelting could be the handiwork of the agencies.

The death of the infant is appalling. No civilised society would allow it, Geelani told The Indian Express. He said the youth who were behind the infants death are not part of the Azadi struggle. No freedom struggle dictates that we inflict pain on our own people. And if some people are doing it,they clearly dont have the interest of Kashmir at their hearts, he said. I appeal to all Kashmiris not to observe hartal on any masked mans call. This is an insidious design to throw Kashmir into turmoil, Geelani,who is in Delhi for medical treatment,said.

He linked the incidents of inexplicable stone-pelting to the advent of Ikhwan,the pro-India counter-insurgency group of the early 90s. Who was Ikhwan? Those gunmen were also our own youth. Who knows some agencies are again playing spoilsport?

This is the first time that Geelani has been reserved in his defence of stone-pelting incidents in the Valley. I have told the Hurriyat to take a stronger line against the masked youth who are trying to hijack the movement, Geelani,who will meet Pakistan foreign secretary Salman Bashir on Wednesday,said.

The moderate Hurriyat faction too condemned the incident. In Delhi to hold talks with the Pakistan Foreign Secretary,Mirwaiz said,How can anybody defend it? Those who have done it are not part of us or any good cause.