Jammu and Kashmir's Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, along with nearly two dozen activists, on Tuesday held an hour-long peaceful sit-in on a deserted road in Srinagar to protest against civilian killings in the ongoing unrest in the valley.
Carrying black flags and placards, the legislator along with activists of his Awami Itihaad Party collected near Press Enclave at the city centre and staged a peaceful sit-in outside the closed shops at Residency Road.
Some of the placards carried by the protestors read "Stop killing Kashmiris", "Plebiscite the only solution of Kashmir issue" and "India largest non-functional democracy".
Rashid was also carrying a placard with a picture of a badly injured victim which read "India is bleeding Kashmir" and "pellets shot at children".
The Legislator from Langate assembly constituency criticised the Centre and said three more civilians including two women were killed by the army, hours after the Union home minister said the security forces have been asked to exercise retraint while dealing with protesting civilians.
"Is this the restraint?" he asked and said he will go further with his proposed indefinite sit-in outside Parliament house in New Delhi from Thursday.
"I will start an indefinite peaceful sit-in in front of the Indian Parliament from July 21 to give a wake-up call to the Parliamentarians of India who claim to be representing world's largest democracy.
I will go there for justice and I will talk to them about Kashmir issue, Rashid had said on Monday.
Around 42 people have been so far killed as Kashmir is on boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.
Image: Sheikh Abdul Rashid along with his supporters holds placards during protest. Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
