Silent protest against detention of NC-Congress youth leader, others held in Bandipora

Bandipora, 27 Sep: In a show of support against the detention of the NC-Congress alliance's youth leader and others, a number of young supporters and youth dressed in black scarves and headbands, marched towards Gulshan Chowk in north Kashmir's Bandipora on Friday.

Holding banners and pla cards, the youth held a sit in at the Chowk and denounced the detentions, requesting Election Commission of India (ECI) and the central government to restore the free and fair democratic process.

Notably, Tahir Hussain, a youth leader for NC-Congress alliance in Bandipora constituency campaigning for Nizammudin Bhat was detained by police triggering anger among his supporters.

"Democracy or silence, gun or ballot, defaming democracy," were among slogans displayed on the pla cards besides "Solidarity for the arrested," and "sham elections."

"The main reason for this assembly is against recent detentions," Towheed Ahamd a youth supporter said, adding, "we want to question GOI and ECI that what message they are trying to give to the youth of J&K."

The protestors said they request ECI and GOI to release the youth so that elections are held peacefully.