Separatists leaders share stage at rally on Budgam killing

Top separatists leaders today shared stage after seven years at a rally held in Budgam district to mourn the death of a teenage boy killed in police firing.
Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, head of the rival moderate faction Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik were among those who came together at the rally held at Narbal, where youth Suhail Ahmad Sofi was killed in police firing on Saturday.
This is the first time since 2008 Amarnath land row agitation in Kashmir that the top separatist leaders were seen together at a public event.

Addressing the gathering, the Mirwaiz said, "The mission of martyrs would be taken to its destination with complete unity of purpose and commitment."
Malik said, "Black laws like AFSPA and the licence to kill freely were a deep conspiracy hatched to curb the ongoing movement in Kashmir."
Before today's rally, Geelani and Mirwaiz were last seen together at a public rally at Eidgah ground in August 2008, when the protests against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board at Baltal were at the peak.