Human rights protest march: Engineer Rashid, others detained in Srinagar

Police on Thursday detained independent legislator Sheikh Abdul Rashid along with dozens of his supporters after they tried to take out a protest march here on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

Police on Thursday detained independent legislator Sheikh Abdul Rashid along with dozens of his supporters after they tried to take out a protest march here on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

Supporters of Engineer Rashid carry a goat as they shout slogans during a demonstration to mark International Human Rights Day in Srinagar. (REUTERS)

Rashid, who represents north Kashmir’s Langate in the state assembly, along with supporters from his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), were detained by the police at Residency Road after they took out a protest rally from Sher-e-Kashmir Park, a spokesman of the AIP said.

He said the party had arranged for a cow, a horse, a goat and a dog carrying placards which read that the animals were “more secure than the people of Kashmir”.

“It was a unique protest on the occasion of International Human Rights Day to show that animals enjoy more rights than the people in Kashmir.Our protest rally was peaceful, but police detained the MLA along with dozens of his supporters,” the spokesman said.