Riyaz Naikoo Condemns Jamia Incident, Likens Waving Black Flags To Ditching ‘Blood Of Martyrs’

Srinagar: Top Hizb ul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo has condemned the desecration of pulpit at Jamia Masjid Srinagar, saying Islamic State (IS) flags are being waved at the ‘behest of Indian agencies’.

Naikoo, in a purported audio message, which has gone viral on social media on Sunday, said: “Youth don’t understand that it is a ploy by Indian agencies to defame our movement,” Naikoo can be heard saying in th audio message.

Urging people of Kashmir to remain aware of the ploys and conspiracies, Hizb’s field operational commander in Kashmir said: “We get swayed by emotions, but we should use our mind to understand enemies’ plots. Waving of ISIS flags is like going against the freedom movement and ditching the blood of martyrs.”

“There are people with vested interests who are pushing it (waving of IS flags). When we are alive they call us murtads (apostates) but when we embrace martyrdom they appear in our funerals with flags,” Naikoo said.

He said Hurriyat (M) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was trying to unite people for the just cause. “… but these people (masked youth) with vested interests want to divide us.”

Asking people not to let former chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti enter the ‘houses of martyrs’, he said as elections approach ‘she started to visit their homes to enact drama.’

“Her hands are drenched with blood. She is the same person who said that those killed were not there to buy toffees,” Naikoo said. (GK)