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Protest against alleged desecration of Maqbool Butt's grave 2005
KT NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, June 21: Leaders of various separatist organisations today observed a one day token strike, organised by Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), at Lal Chowk in protest against the desecration of the grave of the JKLF founder chairman Mohammad Maqbool Butt in Tihar Jail.
DFP president Shabir Ahmad Shah is spearheading a campaign for getting the mortal remains of Butt , hanged to death in 1984. Shah's organisation decided to observe a one day taken strike against the descration of Butt's grave.
The party chief got in touch with Kashmir Bar association and all other separatist organisations and invited them to join the token hunger strike.
Subsequently, leaders of the organisations along with their supporters converged at lower court premises. They included Shabir Ahmad Shah, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Javid Ahmad Mir, Mushtaqul Islam, and Parvez Imroz. Syed Ali Shah Geelani also took part for a brief period.
Addressing the gathering, DFP president strongly condemned the sacrelige of the Butt's grave. He described it as a tragic incident.
Shah said government of India must respect the sentiments of Kashmiris and hand over the mortal remains of JKLF founder chairman to them. He added that the handing over of the mortal remains will be the biggest confidence building measure.
Geelani described the "desecration" of the grave as illegal and improper. "Those who laid down their lives for the freedom struggle, will never be forgotten and the desecration will never be tolerated", he stressed.
"By resorting to such tactics, government of India wants to suppress the people of Kashmir so that they give up their goal... but this is their illusion and the people of Kashmir are never going to come under any duress", the Hurriyat (G) chairman said.
Later, the separatist leader moved out and observed a token hunger strike at Lal Chowk. They remained there for a long