Srinagar, Jan 13: All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Thursday sought immediate release of journalist Sajad Gul and demanded authorities to stop the policy of intimidation through arrests and detentions.

In a statement, APHC said that the policy of state repression in Kashmir continues unabated. “Few days back journalist Sajad Gul was arrested for doing his duty of reporting facts and charged brutally for ‘criminal conspiracy’. Such harassment of scribes has become a routine in the valley,” APHC said.

It asked the authorities to release Sajad Gul and stop the policy of intimidation through arrests and detentions.

APHC also expressed anguish at the plight of those Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu who have been forcibly removed from their dwellings of eight decades during a demolition drive.

As per the statements given to press by those displaced, they were given no prior notice about it and have in mid winter and at a time when the pandemic is once again spreading fast been rendered without a roof.

APHC said that while outsiders are being incentivised to buy land and property in J&K to change its demographics, it is very unfortunate that Jammu and Kashmir’ s own citizens are being displaced and rendered homeless in such inhuman way. kno