A group of displaced Kashmiris, incensed over what they perceived as “anti-India” remarks, assaulted the Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while he was addressing a seminar in Chandigarh on Thursday morning.
The star speaker at the International Democratic Party’s convention on the Kashmir issue, the separatist leader evidently provoked members of the Kashmiri pandit community amidst his listeners when he began by asserting that “Kashmir was never a part of India” and referred to the ongoing violence in the Valley as “a struggle for freedom.”
Taking the organisers by complete surprise, several protesters rushed the podium where the Mirwaiz speaking and proceeded to manhandle him after snatching the microphone. There was near complete pandemonium for several minutes until police reinforcements were rushed in with slogan-shouting protesters smashing flower pots and flinging chairs.
The other speakers including Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra could be seen scurrying to safety while only a “brave” few stayed back to try and save the Kashmiri separatist leader. While the Mirwaiz escaped any serious injury barring a few missing buttons on his tunic and dishevelled hair, police rounded up 21 protesters including six women. They were detained at a local police station for several hours.