Srinagar, Feb 9: Various renowned Human Rights Activists (HRA) and University students observed silent protest demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the hanging of Afzal Guru on Saturday. Protesters were attacked by Banjrang Dal activist.
 Activists termed the hanging of Guru as a “big mistake.”
 “This is the murder of justice. Guru was not given an opportunity to be heard and to prove his innocence. He (Guru) wished to live but was shown the path of death,” prominent Human rights activist Guatam Nawlakha told KNS over phone from New Delhi. “There was no solid proof and evidence against the Guru. After shunning the path of militancy Guru wanted to live the peaceful and dignified life but he was denied this right by naming him in Parliament case with out any reasonable reason”, he added.
 Nawlakha said that the activists of Bajrang Dal attacked the peaceful protesters which resulted in a scuffle between the protestors and Dal activists. “We sat on peaceful and silent protest at 1pm. Police was present when Dal activists’ attacks on us but it (Police) didn’t take the cognizance of matter and instead arrested the some of the peaceful protestors who were later on released”, said Nawlakha.
 Lawyers of Afzal Guru Advocate Nandita Haksar and Advocate N.D. Panchali said that they both went to Tihar Jail early in the morning with a written application seeking that last rites of the Guru should be performed by his (Guru’s) relatives. “We wanted to move an application before the jail authority on behalf of Guru’s family. We were made to wait for two hours and after that our application was received. To perform last rites is the religious right of the relatives”, said Lawyers. 

FIRST PERSON HILAL AHMED MIR
Never seen such helplessness when a few Kashmiri students and professionals joined in by their friends from JNU were beaten by Sangh activists. But displaying profound courage, especially the girls, the protesters raised freedom slogans in the faces of these people in a surcharged atmosphere where it was difficult to distinguish between policemen, media persons and the lumpen assailants. The goons were there even before the protesters started arriving, with some Kashmiri Pandits, lurking in the background, customarily. When the goons came so close to these bunch of girls that they started abusing and punching and kicking them, the policemen formed a ring around the protesters and bundled them into a bus without taking any of the goons into custody or even restraining them properly. Weeping like kids and raising pro-freedom slogans at the same time, the protesters were dragged to the bus and whisked away. The last to be dumped in the bus were Samiya Lateef and Zamruda. It didn't take scores of cops much effort to lift tiny Samiya, who was shouting "Lekey Rahenge Azadi" as loudly as she could. I haven't seen Zamruda Ji crying as hard as she did today while she was dragged on the streets of Jantar Mantar. As defiant as ever, Gautam was arguing with police officers, asking them to stop these goons. But from the demeanor of the cops, it was evident what they wanted.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST