Srinagar, July 29: Police Thursday registered an FIR against member assembly Langate Engineer Rashid for “assaulting police officials.”
SP Handwara Muhammad Rafiq Vakil told Greater Kashmir that they have registered FIR against Rashid for assaulting police officials on Wednesday evening.
He said that an FIR number 149/10 under section 147, 148, 323, and 427 RPC has been registered against the MLA in police station Handwara.
Meanwhile, Rashid on Thursday surrendered his security and sought international intervention in “curbing human rights violations in 
the valley.”
 Rashid told Greater Kashmir that he had given up his security provided to him by state government “to protest against the police brutality on him and hundreds of other youth in valley.”
 “Even the legislatures are not safe in Kashmir due to unbridled powers police is enjoying under Omar Abdullah government. I appeal international community for forthwith intervention in safeguarding the life, honor and dignity of Kashmiris. Our chief minister couldn’t protect his legislator from police, how can he protect common masses. He has given full authority to police and couldn’t remove an SPO fearing loss of power,” he said, adding that recent protests against the killing of youth by police and paramilitary forces are justified in the Valley.
 “Should the people watch as mute spectators the killings of youth? I would support every pro-people programme even if comes from the separatist camp,” he said.
 Tension erupted in Handwara town on Wednesday evening after Rashid was roughed up inside police station for demanding action against the cops for beating a driver by policeman during the chief minister’s visit Wednesday.
 Rashid alongwith hundreds of supporters staged protests from Wednesday evening, till today afternoon demanding removal of SP Handwara and concerned SHO. The protests continued throughout the night in front of Handwara police station.
 Rashid said he would continue protests until his demands of removal of police officials in Handwara and release of youth languishing in different jails are met.” Our next phase of agitation would be in Srinagar,” he further added.
 Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the use of force on the Er Rashid of Langate.
  “The government had made use of force a general norm through which it was trying to muzzle voice of dissent and protest. That even an elected representative of the people is not spared is only an indicator of insecurity and atrocities in the state,” a PDP spokesman said in a statement.
 Condemning the police action against Er Rashid, CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami demanded a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
 Tarigami met Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly and submitted a notice of breach of privilege against Superintendent of Police Handwara under Rule 238 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the J&K Legislative Assembly.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST